Evening Star Newspaper, August 11, 1894, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. 01 Fi The The eit: AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 8. 5. Prest. eee eager es New York Office, 49 Potter Building. Evening Star is served to eubscri 7 carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents cents each. By mail where, im the Ctted «1 . w Unt Smeg Canad ‘anywhere in the ted —: iturday quintupl> Sheet Sta: with foreign poet achied,, -_ Entered at the Post Orfies Qs second-class mail ma‘ | oy mail su'weripthy vek, or 44c. per month. postage prepaid 50 cent @ PBOOSVOSOOOHOVOD PODMBAGOITS SHPOOGO OHO HOT COHOOHOHOODS OOHOSOOOOSOLLO é = co Ne IPOOOCODPDSDDOSOOMDAMGHAOSWOOOHO™ x g a provement Sale will conclave. be idle or n eunsylvania Aveune, Cor. 11th Street, by Eyoning Star Loeran Company, Sper =a Part2. Che Foening , Star. Pages 9-20. ’ 29 SS BOSSES 089586 5. Kann, Sons & C 7il Market Space. be In the meantime we are not eglect you. every item is read line for line. 1,000 yards Challies and Pongees, from 1 © 10-yard patterns, reduced to We Start the Ball A-Roiling With Remnants. 1 7-8c. a yard. 2,000 yards Heary Unbleached Muslin, red.ced to 2 5,000 yards Chevioteen, fast colors and excellent styles, reduced te 3 3,000 yards All-wool and Half-wool Challics, plain and figured and extra assort- ment of mourning styles, that sold from 8c. to 35c. a yard, length running from 1 to 10, reduced to 1,000 yards Furniture Drapery Cretonne, reduced to 730 yards Creponette, im all the new light plaids and stripes, reduced to 7q-8c. 7-8c. 5c. 5¢. 5C. 8,000 yards Extra Fine Percales, 12igc. quality, reduced te 800 yards Best Imported Plain I £40 yards Satsuma Crepe Drapery, the handsomest and most beautiful, imitation of fine silk drapery ever shown, entirely new never seen before, worth 2c. yard. 2.006 yards Berlaine 125 ‘These few items of Remnants ought ‘t , A this lire alone; we follow this up with selliag everything im Silks that were 20c. and 3vc., such as Printed Chinas, at Jong, but we are not satistied wii 15C 24 and 28-inch Finest Printed Indias, that we sold at 59c. and 75e. a yard, re- Guced to . 6c. quality Printed Indias, Bayadere Duchesse, Chinas, reduced to $1 quality All-silk Plain end duced to $2.49, $1.69 and $1.89 qualtt; Francaise and Moire Antique, ri Silks ha more value with us than any cotton fabric in make up our minds that goods must go, style, quality or price ts not considered. Encampment Supplies. We are ready to supply private homes, boarding houses or hotels with the lowest- priced Bed Coverings ever offered in 1% dozen Good Quality Pillow Cases, 34x65, worth I5e., reduced to Special bargains in Sheets, for single and double beds, Bed Blankets and Comforts. Aurora Blankets, colored 200 pairs Celebrated gray and tam, worth §1 Enean 150 pairs Volunteer White Blankets. 100 pairs All-wool 11-4 Queen Isabelle campment price. worth 99 Bed Comforts, T5e. 125 Bed Comforts, large si: 100 Bed Comforts, good quality, Se. Honeycomb White Spreads. $1.25 Marseilles Finished White $1.69 Marseilles Finished White Spreads, extra large. Encampment worth $1.25. 1=2¢. Black Siteen,” 25¢ 2 1=2¢. joc. igs or Flannelette, all the newest fall designs, worth 6c. ve enough to crowd .a yard. 5c. 29¢. Satin “Stripe Grenadine, OC. oy Colored and Black Satin Stripe Moire, wed to. $1.00. this city. 10c. stripes, pink, ent price worth $1. Encampm: nkets, actual vs price. . worth $1.50, Ene: Encampment npment price ds. Encampment price Greater bargains than ever will greet your gaze for this coming week if quality, reduced te Polka Dot Surahs and Figured our house. When we bleached and unbleached. Encampment price. Encampment price... S/ That Should Be of Interest to Every One. We were to begin our improvement ‘on [ion- day next, August 13, but on account of the com- ing Knights’ Encampment we find it impossible to let the builders interfere with our business. > 5) é ® BeCandid, We Are Too Busy to Stop Harvestingi@ And the consequence is that our Great Im- Ce) postponed until after the @ go ng to our store all day inches wide, re- Motre € mr 6c. blue, 62-inch Bleached Damask, sold at 5c. Encampment price.. 62-inch Bleached Damask, sold at 75c. Encampment price..... 7Oinch Bleached Damask, sold at Sic. Encampment price.... 72-inch Bleached Damask, sold at $1. E € mpment price.. 86-inch Unbleached Damask, sold at 35c. Encampment price... S6inch Unbleached Damask, sold at 4%¢. Encampment price. GP toch Unbleached Damask, sold at 65c. Encampment price... 49C.-¢ 7Zinch Unbleached Damask, sold at Encampment price...... | cam baler ets: canal wanaaisk 0s cn: ali oecu ickaieeee "8 price -- : REAR - 379. 100 dozen Satin Damask Towels, 12%. 50 dozen Satin Damask Towels, 50 dozen Satin Damask Towels, 100 dozen Huck Towels, 10c. Per 100 dozen Huck Towels, 12'3¢. 50 dozen Momie Towels, 15e. Per dozen... 25 dozen Fine Bird's-eye Huck Towel 2,000 yards Honeycom> Bleached 1,000 yards Plaid Glass Toweling. .. You will find our stock: of Table quoted anywhere in the city. 50c. Quality Navy and Black $ @e. Quality Per dozen. . avy and Black Serges at 19e. Be. dozen. » Be. Per Linons, Dress Goods, Navy and Black Serges Se. Quality Navy and Black Serges at... Laces and Inserting. 12ie. and 15e, Butter Color, White ard Ecru Inserting now......... and 45e. Oriental Laces now. Our great difference In former prices and now. Lace Depart Lace B5e. and 40c. Eeru Inserting now.... 0c, and 40c. per plece of dozen yards. ; facet: ceartnent bas recelved the uiki jest cut of all, Curtains. 100 pairs of Nottingbam Curtains, good width and length... 80 pairs of Nottingham Curtains, white and ecru airs of Nottingham Curtalns, ea tnree special numbers of every p white Lace Cur worth from . to tains," selected | for’ ‘this a pair more, . $2.10: $2.65 . $1.co > Bie nl guec according to this advertisement, jin the Nati WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1894-TWENTY PAGES. THE NATIONAL GUARD a A Consolidation That Was Hoped for Falls Through. COMPANIES WILL KEEP THEIR IDENTITY Review of the Results of the Mar- shall Hall Camp. pecinias en GENERAL NOTES eS ae Some tire ago a proposition was made to form the three leading soldier organiza- tions of the District into a single battalion, compored of four companies of one hun- dred inen each. ‘This suggestion was made at a meeting of the Washington Light In- fantry Corps, and it was unanimously agreed to invite the National Rifies and the Naticnal Fencibles to join with the Light Infantry in forming such a battalion. The proposal Included among other things the sale by the National Rifles of its armory property on G street, which is estimated to be worth $100,000, and the devotion of the sum thereby procured to the purpose of reducing the debt row resting upon the armory and theater property of the Wash- ington Light Infantry, the estimated value of which is $400,000. The name of* the Washington Light Infantry company was to be retained and the members of the Na- tional Rifles and National Fencibles were to come in and become joint owners of the property. The infantry agresd to disband vo of its present companies and to bring al Rifles and the National Fencibles without the loss of an officer in either company, and to provide for staff of each organization on the hon ‘The object of the proposers of this scheme, it was claimed, was to provide Washington with a military organization which should be the finest in the United States which should be provided with income suftictent to sup st degree of military excell assertel that under Such the Income of the proposed would be $43,000 a ye | of uriferms other tional Guard andthe ¢x- sun mer trips and other excur- mitar charac ‘as also ~ Ita t the drill ny of ies should b petitive tests, and it w Infantry mitted a pr tional Riftes Rifles, a nd of the imp Ing the object so in many respects, th declined to further ente t Cause of the Failure. ation with members of the Na- since the meeting referred to el the fact that the same un- rplexity in which the members ure plunged regarding the their property o tand , prevented the organization trom Leng mustered inio the National Guard, onsible for the omsider rion of the Li h comm y respect ject. Conve tional Ri has deve! fortunate 1 of the com: thé the memt, cherished. It, wae,.aut be- Intantry that” he natural name | nization © one pro- ui 2 Light ine ned that t military the nam so deariy of the a orgs that it) and care- fully rel by the m of the Na- thenal Sat a meeting held on Tues- day evening last. It was argued t the National Pencibies of Washington, D. €, have earned a record to be ud of as the | National Fenetbies, os ris of their SS on aril have spread hout the laad. The ation is most ning condi and the t it would be cé no p to drop the naz Na- and with it undoubtediy | ame, to consulidate with the of the Marshall Hall Camp. and sunburned were the al guard: When they hing home fi vir ten day encampment at Mar: Hail on M day. During their absence Center Market Armory presented a lonely appearance, but how every evening the piace is enlivened by numerous groups of militiamen, re citing fragments of history of what’ they all believe to be the mest successiul en- campment ever held by the Distriet Guard. Many wer? the scenes and incidents of Camp Blake that will long be remembered by those who were there, Salient were the irstances of disciptine, and valuable were the lessons of instruction in ali the duties of the soldier, Camp Blake was intended for a camp of y instruction, and in all of its details 1 the time of the de- Tarture from the armory until the arrival home, military instruction was ever up- held as the first and inost important object. In an encampm f militia the dis- cipline and success of the le thing de- pend upon the commanding officer, and unless he is capable, efficient and’ thor- oughly alive to the objects ef such institu- tions, little wiil be accomplished. And not least’ of all, with recruits it an and a rever-fai the pro Nationa! ¢ shall Hall fr singularly f. an offic business al regiment of rd that i m July 28 to August @ was tunaie, for at its head was thorougily understeod his who had the novelty of militia affairs, worn off by years of active service as an officer in the regular army; a man who is kind and considerate to his men, and who had the kearty support of every’ officer and the love of every man in camp. Maj. Otto L. Suess, who was in command of the prov 1 regiment, thor- cughly appreciaies the importance’ of a well-drilled miiutla. The recent labor trou- bles throughout the country have impressed upon the public mind that importance; and no one is doing more to train and develop the militia of the District than Maj. Suess. The commissary department was under the charge of Lieut. Richard J. Donnelly of the third beuaifon, and never were more onerous and responstble dutics better per- formed. The lieutenant had a valuabie assistant in the person of Commissary Sergt. Leeman, who remained faithfully at his post both day and night. Mr. A. P. Gei was the assistant commissary. The quartermagter's department was in mp at Mar- charge of Capt. W. H. Myers, the veteran quartermaster of the D.C. N. G. Under his supervision all the baggage was collected at the several armories and transported to the wharf and put on board the steamer Queen, and unloaded and delivered in camp without the loss of a single piece. Owing to the fact that so much private baggage was taken along, an unusual degree of care and atten- tion was required. In addition to this were the many other kinds of property which tad to be cared for and duly accounted for to the proper authorities after the camp was over. A Thoroughly Equipped Hospital. The hospital at Camp Blake was probably the best and most thoroughly equipped of any during the history of the District guard. It was under the care of four able and ex- perienced military surgeons, qualified ana equipped to treat any wound or disease that might have demanded their attention, There were two large tents furnished with soft beds covered with mosquito bars and with rcom for twelve patients. The dispensary tent was in charge of Dr. McPherson and Dr. Davis, hospital stewards of the nfth battalion and the ambulance corps, respect- ively. Dr, J. R. Neely, surgeon of the fifth battalion, was post surgeon, in charge of ward No. 1. Dr, Francis J. Woodman, surgeon of the sixth bactalion, was assist- ant post surgeon, in charge of ward No, 2. Dr. James A. Watson,surgeon of the ambu- lance corps, and Dr. Clarence A. Weaver, surgeon of the third battalion, were assist- ant surgeons. One feature of the medical artment of the camp was especially iseworthy. Each day a surgeon was designated as medical officer of the day, and his duties were to carefully Inspect the sanitary condition of the camp and to in- spect the condition of the food at each meal aud the condition of all meats upon arrival. One of the busiest scenes in camp was about the tent of Adjutant Charies LE. Swigart. Here the morning reports were received and considered. The guard detail for each day was made out and proportion- ed ameng the several companies. Here the orders were issued, and any time during the day and until late at night the click of Sergt. Maj. Mock’s typewriter could be heard, Adjutant Swigart, although a young man, has had extensive experience in the National Guerd, both in the District and in the state of Indiana, and it can safely be said that no better informed adjutant can be found in the District militia. ‘The rifle practice was conducted by Lieuts, Shaw, Vale and Sabin. The shooting was dene on tne range used by the regular troops, and many good scores resulted from the week’s work. One of the important features of the camp was the practical instruction given the men relative to guard duty, Maj. Suess places a high estimation upon this important service, and aimed to make It one of the special features of the camp. Capt. Columbus was designated as special instructor in guard nd it must be sald in justice to him bat no enlistel man went cn guard duty id came off without attaining a great al of knowledge coneerning sentry re. quirements. The sentinels were ¢nstruct- ed relative to their duties and required to commit to memory the most important Not infrequently were they put to tests by the older and more ex- P 1 officers. One fact concerning the guard duty at Camp Blake is that no man Was put on guard duty as a punishment Violations of camp regulations or bre: of discipline, ishment, 1: Instead of such mode of pun which is prohibited by the army ulations, the prisoners were required to pohce duty around the mess tent, and perform such other duties as were neces- sary to keop the camp in gc rder. What “old guard fatigue’ was something as new to gome of the boys as it 2s di ple. re 6 tended the drills and gave them his attention, the benefits of the short ‘pment were. manifest. Although at some of the soldiers were a little awk- ward with a gun and a little clumsy tn the ranks vet before they returned home all condveted themselves like veterans. There were three different inspections held during the week, and although the first one was highly creditable, the second was an im- proven:ent and -the third was stil better and highly pleased Maj. Suess. Another feature of the camp, conducted by the engineer corps, under the personal supervi: of Corp. B. C. Wheeler, was the homing p eon messenger service. By care- ful breeding and trataing of those birds the m'litia has acquired a valuable adjunct. They are handied and used by the signal corps, und it only requires an opportunity to illustrate their value in time of active military service, Maj. Sucas Gratified. At the close of the encampment Maj. Suess expressed himself as being highly plessed and gratified with the results of the outing. The excellent work the soldiers did in camp and the willingness with which they performed their respective duties were especially gratifying. He has written let- ters to Maj. Wilson of the third battalion and Maj. Gilbert Thompson of the engineer corps praising the work of the men of their respective commands who were in camp. “| mention was made of the excellent provisional company of the snd of the ability of Capt. Imadge. Lieuts. Donnelly, Mattingly and Heidt and Sergt. Maj. Mock of (he third battalion elso received special menue. for the soldierly manner in_ which ‘eiod themselves and performed cir 344 > ‘duties in camp. Capt. Say- ther Teapetlve n> third battalion was the pride of the whole cay...» It drilled contin- d although in {he Suard but a y months, the exhibition ‘ny. the manual of arms given on the evening or the com- petitive drill was excellent. ‘ After the exciting scenes of the memo. ~ ble Friday night Maj. Suess placed on duty a provost guard to patrol the grounds of Marshall Hall after “taps,” in order to pre- vent any further disturbance. Lieut. Mel- h of troop A was appointed provost of- ficer, and, with a squad of five mounted men’ and about twenty afoot, he kept the vicinity of the camp as quiet as could be desired after “taps.” Maj. Suess was de- termined that no more disorders should be committed to injure the good reputation of his ccmmand, and his thanks, as well as those of Col. McKibben, were heartily ex- tended to Lieut. Meilach for the efficient manner in which he managed the midnight patrol. ‘The boys are now at work trying to im- prove in every way military. There may be some changes in the personnel of the fifth battalion by resignations, promotions and possibly by court-martial, One thing, however, is already manifest—every officer and enlisted man of the provisional regi. ment is preparing to make a perfect show ing at the brigade encampment next year, to which they are all looking forward with eagerness. Notes. Considerable dissatisfaction is being ex- pressed by the members of certain con: panics of the guard esncerning the location of the*new brigade armory, now in course of erection, and also as to the size of the company rooms. The men claim that they have become accustoned to a down-town location and are not In favor of a meeting place not easy of access. Therefore it is not at all unlikely that certain organiza- tions wili maintain rooms distinctive from those at the National Guard armory. Company A, second battalion (Corcoran Cadet Corps), will entertain the Norfolk City Guards, company B, fourth Virginia, when the latter organization passes through this city on its way to camp at Oakland, on the 19th instant. Capt. Edwards expects to have half a hundred men in I!ne on the oc- casion of the parade as escort to the Knights of Pythias. The corps is now in a most flourishirfy condition, and has arranged to give four dancing Teceptions during the coming winter, On invitation, Major Suess, Capt. Neely, Adjutant Swigart, Capt. Simmons, Lieut. Knockey, Quartermaster Sergt. Barton and Sergt. Maj. Mock of the fifth battalion will visit the encampment of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, leaving Washington Au- gust 16. Company D, fifth battalion, has heen christened the Suess Rifles, in honor of the popular commandir g officer of the battalion. It is pegbable that Capt. Danforth of the Gonzaga*Cadets will be elected second Heu- tenant of company D, DISPUTED GROUN Uncertain Ownership of Many Wash- ington Squares and Lots. MOCH BELONGS 10 THE UNITED STA Necessity of Prompt Attention to Perfecting the Titles. OLD RECORDS FADING frequently requires several days’ search to find it. It Is believed by Mr. Stewart that there are many of these reverted lots still unsold. : Mr. Greenteaf'n Lots. Another case of more importance than the above is mentioned by Mr. Stewart in his report. OnJuly 9, 1794, James Greenleaf of the city of New York paid for 1,000 city lots, for which he received deeds in fee, which deeds were recorded in the office for re- cording deeds. On the same date Green- leaf entered into an agreement with the Commissioners to secure a loan in Europe for the city of Washington. For that ob- ject another 1,000 city lots were deeded to him. The effort to obtain the joan failed, however, and the latter 1,000 lots were re- corveyed to the Commissioners. These deeds were also recorded in the office for re- cording deeds. Again on the 14th of Au- gust, 1794, the same James Greenleaf, for himself, Robert Morris and John Nicholson of the city of Philadelphia, entered into a new contract with the Commissioners for the selection and purchase of 5,000 more city lots, to which Greenleaf’s first pur- Recent action by Congress emphasizes in | chase was added, making in all 6,000 lots. a practical way the urgent necessity for the | The 1,000 lots previously paid for by Green- compilation and protection of the cld records of the United States pertaiaing to dic ten miles square constituting the seat of the national government. the act authorizing the sale by the Secretary of War of certain lands at Cabin John Bridge occupied by the Messrs. Bobinger, leaf and deeded to him were given as se- curity for the fulfillment cf the latter con- tract. The addilional 5,000 lots were placed upon the records for recording deeds, and The case in point ts | not only that, but ail the 7,000 lots of the three contracts mentioned were also enter- ed upon the records of the office of the com- missioner of pul buildings and grounds in the name of Greenleaf, Morris and and improved by them in the erection of a| Nicholson, and so remain to this day, not- hotel and in other ways, under the ¢r- roneous impression that they held a clear ttle to the property. As a matter of fact, withstanding the said contractors failed in the year 1798, when their contract became a suit In chancery, where it continued for over twenty years. Trustees were appoint- the title to the land is bad!y clouded, and | ed by the courts, and the lots were sold at the action of Congress was necessary to | different times, in different years, after ad- make it clear. There is a great deal more land within the limits of the District of Co- lumbia that is held under similarly Coubtful titles, The latest official estimates show that there are twenty entire squares and atout 2,000 single lots within the city limi ciaimed by other parties, to whic ted States has a fair legal ticle. early omeial records bearing on this im- portant subject are in the custody of ‘Tol. John M. Wilson, corps of enginvers, U.S.A, the Unis vertisement, at a . Mr. Stewart ex- Presses the belief tht many of these lots still remain unsold. The Commissioner's Purchases. The commissioner of public bulidings (suc- cessor in office of original commissioncrs) » now | purchased large numbers of lots at these auctions, but failed to make a detailed rec- Ail the | ord of the transaction, recording otily the cash amount of each purchase in gross. The last effort to clear up title to unsold United States lots in the city was made by by virtue of his office as commissioner at | Mt. Robert McClellan, Secretary of the In- public buildings and grow of Columbia, That gentc his predecessor, Col. Ernsi, now superin- tendent of the United States Military Acad- emy, have repeatediy ure] upon Congress the importance of making immediate pro- Vision for a complete “and exhaustive |e: amination of the old records of the District, together with an examination of the files uf Nue ouice of the Secretary of tre Intertur and of the late corporation of Washington, auctioneers’ books and all other “3 ds in the District pia where it is at ail likely that informavon can be obtained catculated to throw lignt on the subject of the tte .o property im v District of Columbia. Much Land Belonging to the Govern- ment. that such examinations &s his duties would admit of have led him to betteve that there is a large amount of land within the city limits held by private parties. that legally belongs to the government and for which no deeds of transfer of title have ever been legally exe- cuted. For the past five years he and his successor, Col. Ernst, have endeavored to secure legislation for a proper indexing and arrangement of these records with a view to a final determination of just what land within the city limits actually belongs to the United States. Col. Wilson says that he hesitates to cloud the title to property of any man who holds it under the impression that title is perfectly clear, and, there- fore, he will not officially indicate, until the ter is more critically examined, the pre- cise squares and lots, which, from the in- complete records on tle in his office, appear to belong to the United States. It was five years ago, when Col. Wilson was in charge or public and grounds, during President Clevelatd’s former administration, thac he first invited the attention of Con. gress to the necessity of action in this mat- tec. Col. Erast, who succeeded him during the four years of President Harrison's ad- ministraticn, annually askea for legislation: on this subject, and the matter was agar. brought up in Col. Wilson's reports of last year and the present year, but still nothing hus been done, notwithstanding the fact that the records are becoming seriously im- paired by age and constant use. Congress »pparently does not mean to act in ihe mat- ter except in isolated cases like that of the Cabin John bridge property. What Old Records Show. The old records of the city of Washington show the action of the original Commission- ers, under whose direction the city was laid out, and also the sale of United States lots since October 17, 1 They are kept in the office of the commissione: buildings and grounds, in the basement of terior, in May, 1853, when he appointed Mr. Robert Ould as a special agent to investi- as well as! gate and report on the matter. It appears that Mr. Ould confined his report almost exclusively to the deeds of record in the cffice of the recorder of ceeds and to docu- ments in private offices in the city. Mr. Stewart says that while Mr. Ould’s report is the best record on file here upon the dis- posal cf city lots, there are very many eh- Ure squares and lots wholly unaccounted for, particularly of those referred to in the Greenleaf, Morris and Nicholson contract. Mr. Stewart says that the records in the office for recording deeds are not, consider- ed in themselves, good and sufficient, for the reason that any untruthful document could have been placed on record there by paying the recorder’s fee. The records of his office show, he says, that many lots Were sold at auction at different times from 1852 down to and including 1867, the record of many of which sales are imperfect, only the purchase amount and the name of the auctioneer being given. The auctioneers naturally object to showing their sale = and the law dees not compel them to jo 30. What Should Be Done. Mr, Stewart therefore recommends that some measure be adopted for procuring copies of the sales of city lots from the auctioneers’ books. He says that a proper detatied record should be at once prepared, showing the disposal of every lot in every square in the city. Many of the documents necessary to this work are widely scattered. Some are on file in the court house, some in the office of the recorder of deeds in Annapolis, sore are in Col. Wilson's office, some ure in the Congressional Library and others are in the hands of private parties. Many of them have not been carefully pre- served and are being rapidly defaced. Mr. Stewart makes these statements as an ar- svment for the employment of a competent person to devote his ensire time to the rT of public | mero, a well-known congressman. proper preparation of the records. He thinks that this work will occupy the entire tention of ome person for three years at least.. He explains that he is too much en- grossed with his regular routine work to at- tend to it himself. His recommendations on this subject have been repeatedly indorsed by the last two commissioners of public buildings and grounds, who have expressed the opinion that the vast importance of the interests involved amply justify the com- paratively small outlay contemplated. Histo “<a FATAL DUEL IN MEAICV. Senor Verastegui Shot Through te Heart by Francis Romero. In a dul at Mexico Thursday right Senor Jose Verastegui, was killed by Francis Ro- The sec- ends of the dead man were Apolinio Costilla, the west wing of the State, War and Navy | president of the Mexican senate and editor Depariment, Owin of the buliding, they are perfectly there so long 4s they last. They are mil- Gewel and discolored with age, however, erd many of therm have been torn and mu- ulated by freq turned over to the commissioner of public buildings and grounds originally in a con- fused mass, without index of any kind, ani are still in a very Incomplete state. For the past eighteen years they have been un- der the “immediate supervision of Mr. Joha ¢wart, a Scotch draughtsman of rare in- te, tity ‘and fidelity, who has devoted all Lis spoPe time during that long period in an attempt te Dring order out of chaos, arrange thes. Valuable papers so that taey may be readily accessible an@ easily under- stood by the mempc"S of the legal fra- ternity engaged in inves,.<ating the title to to the fire-proof nature | of safe | §ressman and Partilo Liberal, and Ramen, a cc editor of El Univer: ‘The seconds of Senor Romero were Senor Barrolo, a Spaniard; Gen. Larno Garillo, ex-governor of Chihuahua, and a member t handling. They were | of the senate. The duel was the result of a quarrel over a woman. On the first fire Verastegui fell with a hall through the heart. The body was taken to the police station. The American Way. At Dinuba, Cal. two ranchers named Ray and Norton quarreled over money snatters. -The quarrel ended in both pulling and to | revolvers and opening fire at each other Their fire was deadly, and both men fell to the ground. Ray was killed instantly. Norton died in a few minutes. Ray’s wife was present during the fight, und received a property. “Several years age M& Stewart, | bullet in her leg which will cripple her for acting under instructions from UC’ Wilson, made a thorough examination of the 1 “rds to determine exactly what land in this ch.” held by other parties is believed to belong to the United States. He reported that after a very careful search and examination he found no satisfactory evidence in the records to show or prove that the United States sold, received payment, or granted deeds in fee for twenty entire squares lying at the northeast section of the city, on the East- ern branch, nor for 2,001 ‘single lots in different parts of the city. Obtained by Deeds of Cension. It appears that the United States obtained the ownership of the half part of these twenty squares, with many of the given number of lots, through and by deeds of cession from the original proprietors of the land in the year 1791, and of the remainder of the lots referred to at subsequent dates. ‘The original conditions agreed upon by the commissioners for the sale of city lot were that the purchaser of a lot was to pay down one-third of the full amount of his purchase at the time of such sale, and the deferred amount in two equal annual in- stallments, with interest. Upon making his last payment the commissioners ordered his deed to be prepared; it was not delivered till so ordered. Both orders: were entered on their daily record of proceedings. Many purchasers paid thelr purchase in full at the sale or sales. It so happened,- however, that many persons purchased more lot than they were able to pay for, and if not fully paid for at the end of two years the lots were frequently resold. The specified time was generally extended upon good security, The more fortunate purchasers who had secured deeds frequently went se- curity for their less fortunate brethren, and in this way many of them forfeited their own secured lots. Another class, contractors of various works, purchased and paid for many lots, and received deeds in fee for the same. They were required to furnish security for the execution of their contracts, and gave their lots as security. By failure of their work their lots became forfeited. All of these forfeited lots were previously re- corded in the office for recording deeds, and also in the records of the Commissioners’ office. Such of them as were resold had new deeds, and appear a second time upon the records without any explanation. If this second disposal be on record now it life. DENIALS FROM CHINA, le te Seid That 11 Huag Chang nas * yot Beem Degraded. The Tien Tsin o2frespondent of the Lon- don Times declares thas the report Aspe me rank and privileges of the y."CTY, eed Chang, have been reduced by mn. eTial com- mand is entirely unfounded. ne The report chat the Chinese General 1" was killed in a battle with Japanese forces at Yashan is pronounced untrue also, A further dental is made of the report that the Chinese cruiser Kuang Ki hus been sunk. ‘The Chinese governmert has ordered all the authorities throughout the cmpire to protect foreigners and missionaries. A petition to the British government has been signed in the English colony in Tien Tsin requesting that British gunboats be sent to that port to prevent panic. ore How to Wave the Hat From the New York Tribune, The fashion of waved hair brings about a new method in the use of the old-fash- foned curling iron, The hair must no longer be crimped, but must be laid over the head in large, natural- looking waves. The entire secret lies in a eons —_ the ron is no longer aw plied to the Up of the tress of hair and the hair wound over it, but the tress of hair itself is wound around the iron, be- sinning as near the scalp as it is com- fortable to hold the heated iron. The il- lustration shows better than words exactly how this is done. The parting of the hair, which proved so unpopular when it was first introduced, has been accepted chiefly by those persons of a Madonna type of face, for they can bear this severe style of hairdressing. The delicate fringe of curls, which so many maidens still continue to wear, is too be- coming to the majority of American girls to be driven out of fashion, REAL ESTATE GOSSIP A Professional View in Regard to the Market's Condition. ABOUT RENTALS AND LAND. VALUES The Cost of Building as Compared With a Year Ago. SOME IMPROVEMENT# A real Bjtate dealer the ‘other day, im talking abobt the condition of business from his special standpoint, remarked that the market was dull, but firm. The experl- ence of his associates in business woul® Probably confirm this estimate of the pres- ent condition. It would be a surprising State of affairs at this season of the year if the real estate market displayed any great degree of activity. It is customary for it to take a rest about this time, and dealers and operators recognizing this fea- ture generally manage to have their holl-+ day time occur at this season. This year is no exception to the rule, and it may be said that the usual summer quietude per- vades the atmosphere of the real estate offices. There is some criticism, however, that the usual summer period of inactivity began so early in the season, but this wag due to general conditions which affect all classes of business all over the country, It is expected that there will be the usua? revival of intcrest in realty at the opening of the fall season. There are different views as to the degree of interest whick will be displayed, but there are already in’ dications that business will not be entirely, Just now the main feature of the market lies in the renting of houses. This is the opening of the season for rented houses, a» in the great majority of cases ter- minate on the last day of August. re sult is that the lists of houses for rent lways larger during this month than at other period of the year. While the bulk of the renting iz not done until the jatter part of this month or the first of next, there are a great many forchanded are apt to get the cream, if any existe, whether at real estate offices gain counter, So these are jooking around with a view of selecting a home for the winter, and when the late comers put in an appearance many of the choice houses will be gone. This is the reason’ why during the month of Au- gust the real estate dealers report more or less activity in their rental department. Rentals and Land Vatecs. While, as has been stated, the real estate marlet, generally speaking, ts dull, and has been for some time, it is also equally true that prices remain firm. There is a scarct of bargains which is surpriging to a many people, who naturally supposed that the hard times would force on the a good deal of ty. This has the case in to Washington real ter tate and there are not now, nor have been during the past year, more of are krown as bargains offered than an! previews year. Of course, there are ere and there where men have gotten in’ @ tight place and been cbliged to sell out @ sacrifice. In some cases they have done this by public salc, and in others by private rete. The number, however, is surprisingly. sirall. It is concluded from the sh which has been made during the past that Washington real estate is strongly held, and that its values rest on substantial foundation. —_ People oat that both land vatues end house rentals are too high in this city, It is said that if rents and values are tod high, as asserted, the owners will dis- cover that fact by the condition of the rarket. The law of supply and demand has got a good deal to do with prices in real estate, as it has with other things which people want and need, and this nat- ural law, it ts thought, may safely be left to regulate the matter. The talk about high prices, it is asserted, Is a good deal like the talk which was indulged in to @ considerable extent during the spring about the number of vacant houses in the city. The careful canvass which was made by The Star showed that there were only 2,400 houses vacant, while the common rumor, | which was based on nothing except asser- tions, placed the number at \, and im some cases as high as 10,000 and 12,000, Building is Cheaper. However it may be about land values an@ rents, it is said that building is much cheap- er than it was a year ago. This is attrfbut- ed to the lower prices asked for building material of different kinds. One man who recently started to build a house said that his cortract price wgs at least 2° per cent lower than he could have built the for a year ago. Stili larger percentages of reductions ure mentioned In connection with estimates for work, and jt fs said that the t is an extremely favorable time for building. The building operations have not been very active during the past spring and summer, but something has been done, and building operations are going on all over the city. It is not likely that the record for the present year wili contain as large a number of new houses erected as was the case last year, but still, the sum total will not make such a bad showing ae many might imagine. There is an abun- dance of money awaiting investment, and in that respect the present conditions for an active pertod of butiding are favorable. The Busiding Record. According to the butiding inspector's rec ord for the week ending yesterday twenty permits to build new houses were taken out, agerceating in cost $8268. This was di- vided among the several sections of the *-~ as follows: Northwest, ten permits, ¥! logy, Southwest, one permit, $250; north- east, three Sg: $1,200, and county, siz — 2 2s commenced the erec- Arthur 8. Brown nas Cohn eat mums tion of three handsome <1wellines of min bers T4i-48 and 48 Prince” Strect, Con Ivmbia Heights. These dwelling built of Indiana limestone and 4. — brick, by Jno. b. Collier. They will be to. feet deop and Sixt en fee: elght inches trent C. B. Keferstein is the architect. ‘A permit was issued during the week to J. C. Yost for the erection of three hand- some dwellings at numbers 701, 746 and 705 | th street northeast. They will be heated throughout by hot water and will be built of pressed brick and will be two stories high and basement. Two of these dwellings wiil be nineteen feet front and thirty-two feet deep, and the other will be eighteen feet front and forty-eight feet deep. J, C, Yost is the architect and builder. Mrs, Rhoda C. Kennedy will shortly build an attractive dweiling at 2127 California avenue, Washington Heights. This resi- dence will be twenty-two feet front, fifty- two feet deep, and will be built of pressod brick. It will be three stories high, with basement, heated throughout by steam, with mansard slate roof. A. B. Mullett & o. are the architects and W. C. Spier & Co. builders. Ferdinand Schmidt has commenced the erection of a handsome dwelling at 3126 12th street northwest. The building will be built of pressed brick, three stories high and basement, heated by hot water. It will be twenty-three feet front and fifty-six feet deep, with one circular bay winlow forty- three feet high. ——_ Ex-State Senator Sloan, nominee for Con- gressman-at-large on the democratic tick is dying at his home at Indiana, Pa. quick consumption. at a bar now people who believe that the first comers — mot beet