Evening Star Newspaper, September 21, 1895, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SONDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. Jith Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company 8. H. KAUFFMAN, Prest. New York Office, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the etty hy carriers, on thelr owa account, at 10 cents Week, or 4c. per month. Soples at the counter Brent each. By mall—answhere in the United tes oF Canada—postage prevald--60 cents per month. Siturday quintuply Sheet Star, $1.00 per sears re aided, $2. “entered at the Tmt Ornee at Washington, D. C., fas second-class inal mat ‘Ail. mail -ahecriptloes must be paid in advarce. tes of advertising made known on applicatice. vee, Che pening Sta Pages 9=20. 4 “WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1895-TWENTY PAGES. a fi Printers’ Inf, cfBe fittfe wcGoof4 master of advertising), saps SJE is cfaimed for the Washington Siar, and profasl frutBfutte cfoimed, Bat no offer netospaper in $e counfrp goes info so farse a percentage of aff fhe Gouses tiffin a radius of fwenfp mifes from Be office of pufficafion. COLONIAL BEACH. UNDER FULL SAIL Adventures of a Party of Wash- ington Canoeists. FROM ANNAPOLIS 10 THE CAPITAL CITY Voyaging at Night and an Ex- perience With a Squall. LIFE OF A SAILOR —+--—_—_. Written Exclusively for The Evening Star, HO WILL JOIN ME from Annapolis to Washington? It will be a glorious trip of 175 miles down the bay and up the beau- tiful Potomac, amd this is just the time of the year to go,” said the secretary of the Washington Ca- noe Association to a trio cf Washington canoelsts a few days ago, stood on the 9th street whart just after the'r return from a short sail to the Four Mile Run. “Count me in,” all exclaimed, and in ac- cordance with the unanimous decision a party assembled last Saturday afternoon at the Baltimore and Qhio station loaded down with the various articles of the camp outfit—cooking utensils and our water- proof suits, technically designated “ollers,” whch are, next to food and water, the most essential part of a canoelst’s “duffle.” Our train was soon carrying us rapidly toward quaint cid Annapolis, where we were to be- gin our eventful voyage in the fleet and stanch Chesapeake bay canoe which we had just purchased there. ‘The Monte was an open canoe, thirty feet in length and carrying three enormous sails, and at the peak were flying the colors of the Baltimore Yacht Club, of which she was formerly a member. As the town clock that evening tolled the hour of 11 our lines were cast off, and with all sail set we began our long voyage. The weather had entirely cleared by this time, and the bright moon shed a soft light upon the picturesque Annapolis harbor, dotted with many vessels at anchor. Far down The Monte. the beautiful Severn river the bright light at Hern Point light house gleamed like a radiant star. About us all was stillness save for the slight rippling of the water from the bows of our canoe. Soon, how- ever, the scene changed, for, passing the point at the harbor’s entrance on our right, we felt the long swell from the Chesapeake bay, and, easing off cur sheets, we headed for Bay Ridge, four miles away. Almost too rapidly we lost sight of the glimmering lights at Annapolis, and crossing Tally’s Point bar, we entered the bay. On our right was Bay Ridge, and instead of the lively scene so famillar to Washingtonians who have visited this excursion resort, we found it at the hour of midnight clad in inky darkness and the only sound the breaking of the waves upon the beach. Far up the bay we heard the rushing of the rising north wind, and as it reached us and filled our sails we glided swiftly down the shore by the long pier and soon afterward reached Arundel-on-the-Bay. Eight miles east of us the red and white flash lights of the Kent Island light houses could Le seen, and, almost directly ahead, Thomas Point shoal Nght marked the en- trance to South river. Despite the lateness of the hour the beauty of the scene preclud- ed all idea of sleep, and we sailed on in the glistening moonbeams, watching the ever- changing shore. Crossing the mouth of South river and running down a few miles of wooded coast we passed the broad estuary of the West and Rhodes rivers, and here were several large vessels lying at anchor. The wind, which was constantly increas- ing in strength, now shifted toward the eastward, and soon we found ourselves upon a le? shore with no harbor for miles below us. The moon, too, was setting, and we knew that until daylight, nearly an hour and a half away, we would be in darkness. We soon found it necessary to furl one of our large sails, and to stand in nearer to the shore in the hope of dis- covering a harbor where we could anchor till daylight. But though we sailed on through the gloom, no haven appeared. The strength of the breeze now required us to take ia another sail, and we flew onward under our remairing canvas, rising Mantiy over the angry waves, which fis ed and rolled around us. Suddenly, and. without previous warning, @ sytall much heavier than the gusts which had preceded it struck our foresail nded. y from the step ‘ell over the starboard bow at a s angle, its base jamming In the It was Imperative io re- i] immediately he big sail umbrella, end clent steerage way ‘ep our boat out of the trough of the we found ‘we were not approach- shore, but, on the contrary, drifting rapidly down the coast and about parallel to it. Knowing of the dangerous cliffs at Ches- epeske Beach and that our boat would be @eound to pieces by the high surf should she go ashore there, we determined to beach her as soon as we could spread sn imprevised jury sail, which we did in a few minutes, utilizing our jib for the purpose. We soon gathered headway and at what seemed a favorable point Just below a lit- tle headland we raa ashore in the tumbling breakers. Two of us jumped overboard at the bow and endeavored to steady the boat while the third member of our party gathered up our dry clothing and some food ai:d matches and leaped ashore. A thicket to the water's edge retarded our efforts greatly, and soon the surf catch- ing the canoe’s stern swung-her around broadside, and as we knew she would fill With “water jn a few minutes, we devoted our energies to saving as much of our car- go as possible. We succeeded fairly well, and after half var: heur’s hard work had nearly all of our outfit eshore, but ell our bread, fresh water and ice anda large portion of our previsions, charts, blankets and spare clothing disappeared in the angry waves. This was not the first shipwreck in the ex- perience of cur party, and, taking matters philosophically, we built a big fire on the beach, got on our dry clothing and watch- ed the dawnirg of the day. As it got lighter we saw, less than a mile below us, the frowning cliffs of Chesapeake Beach, and we were truly thankful that our accident had not occurred there. After resting a few hours and enjoying a good breakfast from our remaining supplies, we devoted ourselves to getting our boat afloat again. As the tide and sea kad gone down this was attended with some difficulty, but we finally succeeded in launching her and found that no injury had resulted from the beaching in the soft sand. . After drying our sails and clothing we hastily stowed our boat with the articles we had saved, and, spreading sail again, we shaped ou course for Point Lookout, many miles to the southward of us. As we passed Chesapeake Beach we noticed its abandoned and half-finished pier, and no sign of habitation save a deserted house in the distance. For hours we sailed along an unbroken and almosi uninhabited coast, and we had to look toward the eastern shore and its passing steamers for signs of life. Just before reaching the mouth of the Patux- ent river, however, we passed a settlement, and the sight of the neatly built houses and vier was a most welcome one. After doubling Cedar Point we sighted Drum Point light house, a few miles to the southward, and our course from point to point often took us many miles out Into the bay and almost in the track of the ocean going steamers. Hurrying onward, across the mouth of the Patuxent river, we laid our course for Point No Point and Point Lookout, atout ten miles distant and, as we approached negr enough to see the cottages and tents, which affurd such pleasant summer homes for so many citl- zens of the nation’s capital, we felt that we were almost within reach of our beau- tiful city, but we had still 104 miles to sail over. Rounding Point Lookout just after sun- set, we passed Into the Potomac river, and running up alongside the government pler, made things snug for the night. We had been all day without fresh water, and the clear, cook water of the artesian well tasted I’ke nectar to us. Many of the Washingto- nians at Point Lockout had taken the steamer for home the evening before, but those who still remained gave us a hearty welcome. « After a good night's rest we made sail at 8 the following morning and were soon tacking across the broad river, past the mouth of the historic St. Mary’s river and past St. George's Island. We sailed almost to the Virginia shore, and then, with a fair wind, headed directly up stream by Piney and Ragged points and Nomini cliffs, reaching Blackistone Island at 7 p.m., and landed at Colton’s, where we stopped a few hours to see friends and to lay in a new stock of provisions. While there, a rtrong southwest wind sprang up, and we determined to sail all night and be at Washingtcn, seventy-seven miles up the Potomac, in the morning. We passed through Dukehart's channel at 9:15 p.m. and sailed at almost steamboat speed by the Wicomico river lighthouse, and soon afterward passed Colonial Beach, its lights twinkling far off on our left. Soon Lower Cedar Point was reached, and here we overtook and passed two large schoon- ers bound up stream. Occasionally a steam- er would be seen meving rapidly in the dis- tance. On we sped, tacking through the famous Nanjemoy reach, which sailors dread so muck, and then, with flowing sheets, around Maryland Point lighthouse and up by Smith's Point, Douglass Point, Rilvernoo! Point, and Sandy Point, Mary- and ‘Then came Chicamuxen creek and Stump Neck, and on the Virginia shore, Quantico end Potomac City. Dawn found us off Mat- tawoman creek, just below Indian Head, and the rest of the trip is well known to Washingtoniars. We reached our berth at 9th street wharf at 10 a.m. Tuesday, just fifty-nine hours from the time we left Annapolis, having spent,twenty hours on shore during the cruise. On our homeward run we over- took and passed every sailing vessel from Point Lookout to this city. 0. B. G. THE LONDON FLOWER MARKET. Masses of Sweetness and Beauty to Delight the Senses. From the Spectator. To speak in detail of all the flowers in Covent Garden market would be to write an article like a florist's catalogue. Every- thing is there that is in season. When we say it in the last days of July, masses of sweet peas, stocks, and carnations, roses of every description—choice ones tied in small bunches, commoner kinds, with long, liberal etalks, and abundant leaves and thorns, bound in big bunches, such as one likes to bring in from the shrubberies of a gererous country garden—lilies and glad- icles—white, red and orange, gome in pots standing tall nnd stately on the shelves abcve the stalls, others laid in layers of cotton wool in oblong cases, and looking as if prepared for their own obsequies, forests of palms and maidenhair ferns, fringes of white creeping campanula, hazes of silvery gypsophylla, skylike stretches of blue corn- flower—struck us as among the most vivid ard distinctive features. Between 6 and 7 o'clock we noticed a good many Sisters of Charity buying flowers for the churches they tend, and hospital nurses catering for their wards. Between 7 ard § o'clock business began to be very eager, and from 8 to 9 o'clock the work of dismantling went on apace. It is then that the poorer class of purchasers come, the women In the familiar costume of the street |ccrrer—the black or nondescript colored | gown ard tartan shawl, and bonnet of straw, crape, or lace, well crushed down and battered, but brightened up with a brave bunch of the commonest and loudest artificial lowers a few pence can buy. This is the time when bargains may be made, and the poor woman who wants to furnish her basket for sale, and the managing lady with a dinner party coming on, who, “though on pleasure she is bent, has yet a Yrugal mind,” are equally eager to buy cheap. At 9’ o'clock the closing bell rings, and, after a few minutes’ grace, during which the exodus goes on rapidly, the doors are shut, end the great flower market 1s over fcr the day. Avarchy in Madagascar. Advices received at Marsellles from An- tanarario, Madagascar, are to the effect that a condition bordering on anarchy pre- vails in the district of Imorina, where every one is fighting for power. HAWAII'S AFFAIRS Complications Growing Out of the Tnsurgents’ Trials. CONVICTICNS BY THE MILITARY COURT Recégnized as Lawful and ‘Binding by the British Government. THE AMERICAN CASES Spectal Correspondence of The Evening Star. HONOLULU, September 5, 1895. ‘The recent action of the British govern- ment has been exceedingly favorable to the government of this republic in the cases of the political prisoners appealing for British interposition. That action has been such as entirely to dispel the apprehensions which were entertained that the Dureell claim,pre- sented by United States Minister Willis, was intended to be the forerunner of a series of similar unreasonable claims to be urged against us by Great Britain. My last letter spoke of the British with- drawal of the claim that Messrs. Rickard and Walker were entitled to British interpo- sition as British subjects, the proofs present- ed hy this government having been accepted as conclusive that both of them had long been. Hawaiian citizens, notwithstanding their affidavits to the contrary. This was soon after followed by the withdrawal of the claim made in behalf of Johnston, who was deported to Vancouver, B. C., last February, and who appealed to the British government to obtain. for him damages for the injury dore to him by such deportation. That gov- ernment, after careful examination, accepts the evidences offered by this government, that Johnston’s deportation was for good cause. But what this government most values as of the highest importance ts the formal and full assurance made by the British government that they regard the military commission which tried and convicted the political prrsoners last February as a valid tribunal, and its verdicts and sentences as being lawful and binding. This is a valuable triumph for this government, be- cause the friends of the convicted insur- gents have not ceased to proclaim that it would be compelled to release them be- cause the validity of their trials by the military commission would be disallowed by England. The Ashford Case. The only exception to an entire concur- rence by the British government in the dealings of this republic with its insur- gent prisoners is in the case of Colonel V. V. Ashford. I reported the trial of this gentleman in a letter to The Evening Star of February 2. He was convicted of mis- prision of treason, and sentenced to im- prisonment and fine. Soon after, on ac- count of his‘ill health, he received a condi- tional pardon, requiring him to leave the country, which he did. The British gov- ernment now express the opinion that the evidence in his case, which they have ex- amined, was insufficient for conviction, and they ask that the findings of the court should be reversed by this government. The latter has agreed to carefully recon-| sider the case. The general belief here 1s that the evidence constituted a sufficient case against the accused. It is claimed that he was convicted mainly upon the testimony of alleged accomplices, chiefly Nowlein, the military leader of the insur- rection, who should not be believed. There was, however, much circumstantial evi- dence corroborating Nowlein’s lengthy etatements about repeated interviews ar- ranging for Ashford’s leading the intended rising from the fish market. ‘A very strong corroboration of Ashford’s coaplicity was the written commission made out to him by Mrs. Dominis to the associate justice of the supreme court. This could only be accounted for es a high price to be paid for his military ability in aid of her restoration. Col. Ashford was one of the last men among our lawyers whose character and record dommended him for judicial office. What stood yet more in his way was that on pages 202-217 cf Blount’s report is a lengthy statement by Ashford, which contains the grossest charges against the personal morals of Liltuckalant. She must hava bitterly re- sented those aspersions. Her motive in giving high office to so foul a former enemy could only have been the strongest sense of ned of his military aid. That, however, may not technically have been the sort of evidence required to con- vict the accused, although it could hardly fail tc influence the minds of the commis- sion, as well as thelr familiarity with his previous well-known record as a bold and rupulous adventurer ready for either side in the game. There is probably not an intelligent person of any party in Hon- olulu who has the remotest doubt that V. V. Ashford was fully informed and an ac- complice in the conspiracy which ended in the insurrection of last January 7. Still, he may possibly be entitled to legal acquittal. Considerate Diplomacy. The favorable results gained from the British government are largely to be at- tributed to the thoroughness and ability with which all the subjects in question have been laid before them by Foreign Minister F. M. Hatch, whose services have been indispensable during the complica- tions arising from our late troubles. The government also feel that they are much indebted to the very friendly and consid- erate dealing of the British representative here, Maj. A. E. Hawes. It is especially noticeable that Commissioner Hawes hag habitually made inquiry here into cases appealed to him before referring them to his government. This is quite in contrast to the course of Minister Willis in the Dureell case, which ke referred to Wash- ington without previously affording this gpvernment any opportunity to explain their action. In regard to their confirmation of the validity of the trial under martial law by military commission, the British govern- ment could hardly act otherwise, being compelled thereto by thelr own conspicu- ous precedent in the case of trials and executions in @amaica under Governor Eyre. Those trials, although universally admitted to have been hasty and violent, recelyed the strongest confirmation of their validity by parliament and the courts. It was thoroughly recognized that under the stress and peril of insurrection ordinary law {s silent, and government fs justified in the defense of its Ife in employing the most severe and summary methods. The methods employed in Honolulu last winter were mild and orderly. They did nog in any way differ from the methods in ordl- nary courts in fairness and deliberation and in fullest opportunity for defense. The only difference was that for the ordinary jury was substituted a body of six officers of the volunteer militia, gentlemen all of high standing in the community. It has been especially noted that it had already been proved to be impossible by means of a native jury to convict any insurgent. This was shown in the case of Wilcox in 1889, who was released by a native jury, although the avowed leader of the insur- rection. Unless every insurgent was to go free, the methods of martial law had to be followed. ‘The decision of our supreme court upon this subject has now been published, con- tuining the briefs of counsel upon both sides. The subject was exhaustively treat- ed and the decision of the court is given in clear and convincing form, based upon British snd American precedents. It is not In the least probable that the United States government will attempt to question the correctness of the decision, or that any other party will think of doing so. That alleged invalidity of the military commis- sion, which the friends of insurgent con- victs have hitherto flaunted as a ‘ground of hope for their release, may now be consid- ered as something to be heard of no more. The Latest Fillbuster,Ruamor. Reports of intended filibuster expeditions seem to spring up on the Pacific coast. We are being educuted into a habit of incredu- lity respecting such alleged undertakings. The latest that has reached us came in a San Francisco Chronicle of August 4, about a recruiting office for filibusters having Leen opened by one Morrow, at 711 Bush street. Few persons here appear to attach importance to it. Some think it a fake of the reporters; others an attempt by some adventurer to raise the wind out of con- fiding recruits. Swill there is just enough in it to revive a trace of the old uneasiness. It especially does not exert an encouraging ir fluence on the minds of a considerable class, who have lately been supporting the idea that all now was well, and it only re- mained to restore the era of mutual good feeling by a general amnesty to the political prisoners. Such an opinion is being venti- lated by so active a supporter of the gov- ernment as the Hawaiian Star. It meets with much favor even among leading mem- bers of the legislature. It is somewhat Peculiar that many of those who are now quite urgent for such amnesty were among the loudest last January in demanding the summary execution of the rebels. Sensible and responsible citizens then held their peace, and waited for the tide to turn. They are doing the same now. The cabinet and council of state are likely to exercise due prudence and caution about such a meas- ure. It seems far from clear that any ex- tensive amnesty to leading rebels is yet safe. No doubt some further cases of par- Gon will soon occur among the lower class of insurgents. Other Britixh Cases. Another application was made some days ago to the foreign office by Commissioner Hawes for the Brttish government asking for a statement of the causes that led the Hawaiian government to arrest and im- prison James Brown, L. J. Levey, M. C. Bailey, F. H. Redward, Thos. W. Rawlins, Arthur McDowell, F. Harrison, C. W. Ash- ford, G. C. Kenyon and EB. B. Thomas, dur- ing the January troubles. The above nam- ed British subjects had formally appealed to their government for reijress for the wrongs done, but the legal advisers of the crown decline to give a decisive opinion without reviewing the testimony that may be submitted by this government. This testimony will*be prepared as soon as possible ard forwarded to England. It is believed that it will be satisfactorily shown that every one of the above named Persors was arrested «nd held under ample evidence of their complicity in the insur- rection, such as to render it unsafe to leave them at large. It'was not considered necessary, however, to try and convict before the military ecdmmission all the cases that arose. Most of the above named were persons of some™ means and social standing, and were subjected to much busi- réss inconveaience and loss by their im- prisonment. There was a marked! difference between this action of the British government and that of the American im the case of the darky cook, Dureell.. In the latter case reparation and indemmity were simply de- manded, without any ‘suggestion that the claim might require in¥egtigation. But the British government ymerely say that their subjects present a Claim foy redress, and ask this government to statezpn what evidence they had been iniprisoned. ‘America treats it as a prima facie case that Dole was wrong; England, that he was probably right, and waits for evidence. America judges offhand, and“asks’ for no evidence. But doubtless one should not impute all the acts of your administration to America. A long list of names of political prisoners was yesterday afternoon laid by the execu- tive before the council of state, with a view of pardorfing them. They include all except a few of the leading and more influ- ential ones. The council advised the pardon of forty- seven prisoners; also the release of the ex- queen on parole. The leaders are to remain in prison longer. Many of the exiles are to return. KAMEHAMEHA. ge THE HAUNTED KITCHEN. Terrible Fright of a Balated Cook and Her Precipitate Flight. Out in the neighborhood of Iowa Circle lives a government clerk who has grown sray in the service of his country, and with his gray hairs have gradually crept up in him several of the ills that flesh is heir f, among others an occasional touch of insomnia. Insomnig breeds irritability, and his Irritability had been stirred to its lowest depths by inability to get a satisfac- tory hired girl, but a month or so ago he was fortunate enough to get a “settled woman,” who was pretty near perfection. She was a good cook, stayed In nights ex- cept when her “s'ciety” met, and in other ways was a model. About once a month |.the oblong piece of buff-colored paper that was slipped under the basement door by the gas man would bring a frown to Mr. —s brow, but he would orly caution the hired girl to turn down the gas when not using it. A few nights ago—one of those hot nights—a “s'cicty” meeting had called the zirl out before she finished washing the dinner dishes, and she hadn't returned when the family retired for the night. Mr. —— had a protracted interview with his enemy, the sleep killer, the same night, and could find no rest. In vain he thought over all his misdeeds and counted one hun- dred backward and forward several tim sleep wouldn’t come. So, after tossing about until long after midnight, he finally got up and sat at the window. Hapren- ing to lock down Into the yard he saw a streak of light glinting from the basement shutters, and he thought of burglars. Creeping steathily down the stairs he heard his model servant washing the inner dishes, so he went back up to hls room. Then he got mad at this wan- ton waste of gas, and,*going to the speak- ing tube, yelled: “Put out that gas and go to bed!” “It was the first time there had been an occasion to use the tube since the new girl came, and she -hadn’t been In- troduced to it before. A smothered exclamation in the kitchen, the noise of a chair knocked over and pans rattling to the floor, was followed by a scurrying upstairs, three steps at a time, and the badly scared colored woman gath- ered her few belongings in her room and made a rush for the front: doer. Mr. —-— tried to intercept her, but she was thor- oughly frightened and“ wouldn’t stop. “Lemme go, boss; lemme go. I wouldn't work heah any mo’ fér all the money in the treasury. I was “washin" the dishes down stairs jes now and a loud voice come right through the tin pan I was jes hang- ing up, and it said, ‘Put‘out dat gas and go to h—!’ I know this house is hanted, and I wouldn't work heah any mo’ for noffin.” And she wouldn't. The next evening in the “Want” column of The Star was an ad. for a settle] colored woman to de housework up at some hundred and something 13th street. gee A Miniature World. From the Baltimore Herald. Four leading French sclentists—Villard, Cotard, Seyrig and ‘Tjssandier—have suc- ceeded in making a wonderful model- of the earth. It is a huge sphere, forty-two feet in diameter, and Has painted upon its outside all details of the earth’s geography. At Paris, where the pigmy world is being exhibited, an iron and glass dome has been erected over the globe. The building is eight-sided, and ts well provided with ele- vators and stairways, which make it an easy task for the visitor to examine “all parts of the world.” The globe weighs eighteen tons, but is so nicely balanced that it can easily be rotated by a small hand wheel. The entire surface area is 525 feet, which is sufficient to exhibit all the moun- tains, rivers, islands and cities, even to the principal thoroughfares of the latter. FOUR TROLLEY CITIES Comparative Notes of Pittsburg, Detroit, Cleveland and Toledo. WASHINGTON'S SPLENDID TRAMWAYS The Value of Anti-Trolley Laws Ap- parent to Returning Citizens. A PROGRESSIVE TOWN — Written for The Evening Star.“ It is an opportune time for Washington- jars interested in street railway transpor- tation to go abroad among the other cities of America and then to return to the one spot where the blight of the overhead trol- ley has not fallen. With the 9th street un- derground line in full and successful opera- ticn, and with the last foothold of the trol- ley syndicate swept away in the removal of the poles on New York avenue, the summer tourist, who comes back to the city this time from the west, as I did recently, will obtain a splendid point of observation from which to compare Washington with some of the other communities of the country, where, by legislative indifference or care- lessness or perhaps design, tne streets have been utterly surrendered to transportation companies with no regard for the safety, comfort and welfare of the citizens. The little journey that gives rise to these trolley thoughts included four exceptionally interesting cities in this regard, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Toiedo and Detroit, four of the mest trolley-ridden cities in the country, and corresponding with the four eastern olaces that are now the victims of the over- head wire, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark and Boston. To the returning tourist the impression afforded by the Washington Streets, wide, smooth and wndisfigured by trolley poles and wires, is one of vast relief after the streets of these four cities that have been named. No pen can describe the feeling of gratitude for the unflinching front that has been presented by ‘the ene- mies of the trolley for so many years, felt by the citizen of Washington, who thus gets back into the realm of advanced street railway facilities that do not include the disadvantages of danger to life, limb and property, afforded by the systems now in vogue in Pittsburg and those other three cities. Washington's Plan Unexcelled. The principal lesson learned by such a visit as mine—viewed from the point of comparative observation that I have men- Uoned—is that the geographical plan of Washington 1s pre-eminently favorable to a safe and convenient street railroad sys- tem. This is an advantage that is not ob- tained by cther cities that have grown spasmodically, without regard to propor- tion or continuity of streets. Such a city is Brooklyn, which, though not included in this series of towns now under considera- tion, is an exceptionally fine example of the disadvantages of welding a number of villages into an unharmonious, incongruous whole, called a city. The duplication of a number of lines upon a few trunk stems of tracks 1s one of the chief elements of danger that is presented in that city, and found also in an excessive degree in To- ledo, where the average citizen of long residence is often puzzled to understand the schedules and routes of the great va- riety cf street car lines, all propelled by overhcad trciley, that form a network of dangeroue tracks through the narrow thoroughfares. In comparison with such a city as To- ledo, the Washington system of completely covering the entire territory by two or three trunk lines fed from the suburbs by smaller lines, is vastly superior. Of course, a cIty so easy to comprehend in its street system as Washington lends itself more readily to an intelligent and modern street railway plan than do the more rapidly grown and less capably planned towns of the west, and the comparison between the street railroad plans of Washington and Toledo, for instance, encourages an addi- tional hope that the street extension plans pieposed for Washington will be consum- mated. What the Trolley Means. Another lesson learned from these com- parisons is that the overhead trolley danger ic not so great in Itself as in what it sig- nifies and means, what is behind it. This cheap construction is most advantageous and beneficial to small towns that other- wise could not establish and maintain rapid transit strect railroad plants. For example, in Adrian, Mich.,where I spent several days, there is just the field that the overhead trolley will, in my opinion, be forced to occupy exclusively in the near future. A city of 10,000 inhabitants, needing quicker transportation than that afforded by horses, will be well equipped with a trolley line, while it could not maintain the more expensive form of cable or underground electric construction. Running between Cleveland and Pitts- burg, on my way back to Washington, my eye was caught by what was evidently an overhead trolley that was being constructed several mlies out of one of the small Ohio cities through which we passed; and here, again, the thought came, is the proper field for the overhead line, binding together the smaller cities around the large centers of population with lines that can be construct- ed cheaply over long distances. But the absurdity and antiquily of this form of con- struction for city use ore shown in Pitts- burg, where the streets are absolutely oc- cupled by the dangerous cverhead wire, giving currerts to cars that run at reckless speeds over a most intricate system of tracks. Pittsburg possesses an exceptional disad- vantage In the use of an enormously heavy car on the trolley lines. One of these lines runs on Smithfield street, the principal bus- iness thoroughfare, the cars there being fully one-half again as large as the average avenue trailer and much heavier than the large cars in use on the Chevy Chase road. These cars are plastered with advertise- ments within and without, and the outside signs are so great and glaring as to be a positive blot on the not over-lovely land- scape. ¢ Too Many Franchises. Detroit is sadly agitated over the street railway question, and there is a strong sen- timent of indignation among the people against the action of the city council in granting franchises without due regard, ft is claimed, to the needs and desires of the residents. The result {s a rapid formation of duplicate tracks, parallel lines, danger- ous crossings and the formation of a mo- nopoly of all the street railway facilities. Tom Johnson, the Cleveland millionaire, who {s the owner of most gf the street car lines at the latter city, is getting a foot- hold in Detroit and his corporation bids fair to control eventually all the lines of the city of the straits. Cleveland 1s completely at the mercy of this street railway magnate, so far as these facilities are concerned. The cars run at an exceptionally high rate of speed at all hours, being mainly propelled by overhead trolley, although there are some Ines that use the cable. There is the same accumu- lation of the cars of the various lines on certain important streets that is observed in Brooklyn and Toledo, and that forms such a dangerous and confusing element in elty life. All of these cities have the 5-cent fare, without the privilege of purchasing tickets at reduced rates. This is mainly because of the formation of street car trusts, thus pre- venting competition, and enabling the own- ers of the lines to regulate the tariff to sult their desires for income regardless of the wishes of the people. This is an exception- ally heavy burden in such a city as Pitts- burg, where thousands of workingmen, re- ceiving small wages, are compelled to use the street car lines In covering the long dis- tances between their homes and their places of labor. Erratic Transfer System. There is an erratic and apparently un- eatisfactory system of transfers in vogue, and I was told by a very intelligent citizen riding on one of the lines that the Widener- Elkins syndicate that now owns most of the Pittsburg lines is increasing its hold- Ings there and rapidly securing control of &ll the trunk lines of the city. This, he sald, gives promise of no relief in the fu- ture in the matter of fares and transfers, as the power of this great corporation with the legislature appears to be unlimTled. My informant expressed the hope that the recent political convulsion in the state, which re-established the Quay power and dimmed the Hghts of Magee in the west and Martin in the cast, would bring some relief to the citizens of Pittsburg in the matter of street railway transportation, which he assured me is really becoming one of the most vital issues of local poli- tics. He said it was the general belief of Pittsburgers that Senator Quay would no longer aid-the Widener-Elkins syndicate to extend its system of lines, and conse- quently its financial and political power through the state of Pennsylvania. In the matter of transfers the syndicate is very arbitrary and in many cases harsh in the treatment of its patrons. Being built between the Alleghany and Mononga- hela rivers, Pittsburg is somewhat like New York !n geography, and long lines of cars fed by side routes are necessary. In frequent instances three-cent transfers are given with such injustice that the patrons of the road are beginning to realize the danger and inconvenience resulting from a monopolistic occupation of the street rail- road territory of any city. To Crush Competition. And here occurs to me the chief danger of the overhead trolley, when I come to elook at the matter in the light of what has happened at Washington during the last few years. The duplication of lines be- yond the demand of the people that is ob- servable in Detroit explains probably as well as any other phenomenon the motives that inspire the controlling corporations to go to the expense of constructing what can never be profitable lines parallel to thelr main course’. The overhead trolley construction 1s so cheap that it is econom; In the end to throw out single track lines over what might become, under competi- tive influences, profitable territory. By thus practically covering every avallable inch of space such corporations as the Widener-Elkins syndfcate, the Tom ‘ohn- son syndicate and others that now control the street railway privileges of these cities kill opposition by rendering it too costly to the ambitious capitalist to seek to divide the profits of the field with them. As a tool of ths street car trust that is so ben- eficlal to stockholders and so injurious to the Interests of the citizens, the cverhead electric system is valuable beyond estima- tion. As a servant of the people the Wash- ington experience shows that it is incalcu- lably dangerous. The more esthetic consideration of the mutilation and obstruetion of the streets by the unsightly trolley pole and wire appeals rerhaps more strongly to a Washingtonian than to a resident of Pittsburg or Toledo, cities that boast of but few such magnifi- cert thoroughfares as-Pennsylvania avenue, and few such fine business streets as F, 7th, Oth and dozens of others: To be sure, the trolley pole and wire would be far less dangerous of themselves in the broad streets of Washington than they are today the narrow streets of Brooklyn, Balti- mcre, Pittsburg and Toledo. The lack of crowding commercial traffic in Washington is another element in favor of the overhead pele and wire should they ever find a foot- hold here, that now seems impossible. Yet the very experience of these cities in this matter points the wisdom of those who have fought so persistently and consistent- ly against the encroachment of the trolley. Gratitude for the Champions. And the return of the wanderer from oth- er fields is marked by a wave of gratitude toward The Star and its friends, who stood by it so gallantly in the fight, gratitude for the preservation of the beautiful streets and avenues, and for the safety and com- fort that have resulted from a stern insist- ence that nothing but the best plans of street railway transportation shall be adopted in this, the best of American cities. I can use that adjective with a feeling of corsclentious truth since my recent obser- vation of the disadvantages of living in such crowded, ill-planned and poorly equipped communities as those that I in- clvded in my recent trip. The absence of the noisy buzz of the overhead cars, the lack of the clatter of heavy trucking over cckbled strects, and absence of the smoke and grime of other cities, the presence of the beautiful trees—marred, I am sorry to fird, by caterpillars—and the frequent loca- tion of beautiful parks, make a sum total of municipal happiness that is not parallel- ed in my range of observation. There is no telling, though, what the re- sult might have been of an early surrender to the demands of the trolley syndicates that so shrewdly recognized the value of the Washington field and so persistently fought for privileges in it. ‘The recent ex- perience with the law-defying attitude of the Eckington road in the matter of the illegal poles on New York avenue shows that The Star was right beyond a question in contending: at all points against the granting of additional franchises and priv- fleges to this representative of the great syndicate that is now making Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburg groan under the pressure of its street railroad mo- nopoly. Cheapnexs No Argument Now. The success of the underground lines on 9th and U streets shows that there is no force in the argument that rapid transit and cheap and dangerous construction are synonymous. If it be true that the Dis- trict committee of the Senate has adopted, as was stated last winter in The Star, a comprehensive plan for the future devel- opment of Washington’s street car lines that contemplates the restriction of the city lines to the present routes already es- tablished, then Washington will probably be forever free from the danger that is now starting the citizens of Detroit. This plan, it is understood, is the feeding of the now established trunk lines by a system of suburban lines entering the city at con- venient points and so arranged as to give competitton without an unnecessary occu- pation of territory. If this could be ac- complished, then, indeed, will Washington be blessed, and then, too, will The Star be blest by its citizens for its straightfor- ward and consistent fight for the good of Washington. G. A.L., Jr. ——__ Dr. Hall and a North Carolina Guide. From the Ralvigh (N. C.) News and Observer. The late Rev. Dr. Charles H. Hall, rec- tor of Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, N. ¥., was fond of getting into the mount- ains of North Carolina, far from railroads, whenever he’ could take a vacation. He loved to come in contact with the hardy, unlettered mountaineer. He esteemed a man as a man. He never tired of telling of an incident that first gave him a knowl- edge of the inbred hatred of the revenue officer. Going up the mountains with a guide, tney came to a deep ravine in a thickly wooded part of the mountains. fan killed over there last wéek,” said the guide. “What had he done?” asked Dr. Hall. “Revenue officer,” replied the guide. “But,” persisted Dr. Hall, “what crime had the officer committed “He was a revenue officer,” the guide. Tt was @ long time before Dr. Hall coula be convinced that the fact that the man was a revenue officer, charged with break- ing up moonshine stills, was crime enough in the eyes of his guide for the severest punishment. again sald REAL ESTATE GOSSIP Division of the Old Beale Farm Into Hone Sites. FEATORE OF STREET EXTENSION LAW A Decided Improvement Noted in “the Rental Market. SOME IMPROVEMENTS One of the well-known places near Washe irgton is the farm of the late Gen. E. F, Beale, which is located north of Hyatts- ville. It was one of the places that Gen, Grant loved to visit, and those who were fond of fine horses were found there 1 specting the fine stock which Gen. Beale kept. It is one of the large farms in this vicinity, comprising some 500 acres, the greater portion of which is under cultiva- tion. Recently it was decided to dispose of this portion of the estate of Gen. Beale, cut it was found that owing to the growth of the city the character of the property had changed, and that it could no longer be regarded as a farm in its entirety. 4 It was thereupon concluded to offer the Property in suitable sections,and the agents, Davidson & Davidson, real estate brokers, have during the past few months disposed of quite a large proportion of the original acreage. Capt. omas of the navy pur- chased the house and twenty acres of the land immediately about it. He intends to make his home there. One hundred acres were sold to Mr. Frank Tilford, and it is stated that it is h's intention to erect residerce on this site. Mr. L. M. Black- ford of the High School, Alexandria, hes purchased a tract of twenty acres, while Mr. George Somerville of Virginia has ac- quired a title to twenty-five acres. Street Extension Law. In discussing the street extension liw, especiully that feature of it that provides fcr the payment of the land, Mr. J. B. ‘Wimer said that section 10 of the law “spe- cifically provides that, upon the cour:’s confirmation of the jury’s verdict, which would very properly constitute an absolute debt against the United States, making this debt, in effect, a judgment for the pay- ment of which money is to’ be appropriated within the period fixed in section 18, and if prcrer provision is not made by Congress ty such appropriation within the time pre- scribed, all proceedings are rendered void snd the land so condemned shall at once revert to the owners from whom ft was to bave been taken. It is true only the plat for the first section is ready for filing up to tkis time, buz the others ar2 being acted upon as rapidly as may de poss:'le ly the Commissioners, who fully realize the great importance to property owners of most speedily compl the whole matter. Wo time will be lost by them in effecting the specdiest possible consummation. “The call once before Congress devolves upon that body the bounden duty, umder thefr-own-act, morally and legally, to act, within the time named, as to providing for the payment of the condemned property, or to lose to the District and to the country that which would be a great public mis- fortune, and which it would, in all ‘tkeli- hood, be utterly impossible to ever recover. It will have been acquired after years of most assiduous labor. It is therefore not Teasonable to assume that the adjustment * of awards is going to be delayed for want of legislation supplying the moneys, which are to come out of the District. Moneys appropriated by Congress to pay the debis, for properties taken under a jury’s award, shall be appropriated, to be paid out of the revenues of the District. What object, then, can Congress have in permitting deé- lay in a matter so palpably of interest of the greatest magnitude to the people of the country, interested in the future of its beautiful capital? No public expenditure | other than that which is taxed upon the District of Columbia is to be made. Our people have accepted this situation, feelli that it is a burden, but light as compar with the immense benefit to accrue to us from it in the not far future by the expe- ditious carrying out of the act and vigsre’ ously pushing to results.” | The Rental Market. ' A decided improvement is reported by real estate dealers in the demand for, houses to rent, and in some cases the lista show a gratifying reduction. The season is by no means over and one of the causes which will probably result in prolonging it is the continued warm weather. The meteorological conditions no doubt retard the carrying out of plans for domestic ar+ rangements for the winter. The usual seas son for renting furnished houses is ape proaching, and it is expected by dealers that there will be more done in this direc- tion during the present year than was the case last year. People are coming back to the city, and in carrying out their plans for the winter real estate dealers find the volume of business fs growing. j Some Improvements. { An: addition~is to be made to the reste dence of George N. Saegmuller, on Marys; land avenue near 2d street southwest, from plans prepared by A. Goenner, architect. | The front will be of press brick, with a bay, window finished with a balcony at the seo- ond story. { Thomas Blagden is building at the corner, of 16th and Albemarle streets a stone and frame dwelling. Native blue stone will be used. Glenn Brown is the architect and G, | W. Corbett the builder. { A permit has been taken out by Charles Rauscher for the erection of a store buildin at Connecticut avenue and M street. It wi be two stories with cellar and have a front- age of fifty-one feet three inches by a depth of 100 feet. James F. Denson is the arcile tect and H. T. Getz the builder. The Week’s Record. i The building record for the week shows @ total of sixteen new buildings at an aggre-' gate estimated cost of $52,750. This is some-' what of a falling off from last week's record, but the continued hot weather, it is thought, is largely responsible. The northwest leads this week, with six permits, at $35,000; the southwest, three per= mits, at $4,425; the northeast, two perm! at $3,300; the southeast, two permita, ai 32.900, and the county, three permits, 4125. —— Vitality of Seeds Tested. From Garden and Forest. Prof. Lazenby of the Ohlo experiment station, in making tests for ascertaining the purity and vitality of seeds, notes the remarkable power of regermination which is exhibited by various spectes. Different samples of wheat germinated no less than ten times after intervals of a week or more, during which time the seeds were kept per- fectly dry. Corn wil] germinate nearly as cften. Clover and the grass seeds germi- rate but once, as a rule. This helps to ex- pluin why a good stard of grass or clover is difficult to obtain in unfavorable sea- eons, while failure with wheat or grain from alternate wet and dry conditions sel- dom occurs, provided the seed is good. It may also be one reason why certain gar- @en seeds will endure much greater neglect than others. ———+e+. Montoro Sails From Havana. The autonomist leader, Rafael Montoro, has sailed from Havana for Yumuri. His mission is regarded as being an important one.