Show h NM I OUR WEEKLY WASH WASHINGTON I. I INGTON LETTER J t tTO TO 10 MAIL 8 Washington April T The e Post cost office department is II working now to plan lao whereby groups of rural mailboxes mall mail boxes at cross roads and elsewhere may bo be by community mall boxes built on the same game plan planas as the mall mail receptacles for apartment houses It Is la stated that this form of ot community mall box can be bo man manufactured for a groat deal loss than the cost cOlt of separate boxes There ar are now in Use tiro ov over r rural free tree delivery mall mail boxes TO SILL SELL Bid DiG WAR WAB BASE DASE The Quartermasters Quartermaster's base at Charleston South Carolina which wa was constructed during the World war at a cost of ot over over has as been declared surplus property and will be disposed of some time lime In other braes bases one one at New ark New Jersey Jerker and one at Norfolk Norfolk Nor Nor- Norr folk will be disposed of COST OF A E LA CAMPi CAMPERS ns With the h approach of the vacation periods period dj t the eU U. U S S. S Forestry Service is making every preparation possible to combat the evils evils' of fore forest t fires fires' The overwhelming of these these fires are caused by carelessness nes of campers campers camp camp- ers ere and hunters The number of such kuch tires fires average annually with witban an average annual loss lose of over 7 acres s of timber with a value lue of ot over oyer is a pretty h high h charge for carelessness WHAT AMERICA ISN ISN'T F DOING i Americans may not agree as all to Americas America's attitude toward European but no European can complain that America is fa doing anything to upset the peace of the world PLOW LANDS DECREASE 20 PER CENT IN VALUE VALVE SINCE 1020 The value of ot plow lands in the United States has bas decreased 26 26 per percent percent percent cent in the last three years The average value of ot all plow lands in inthe Inthe Inthe the United States on on March 1st In 1920 United was an acre on March 1st 1923 The largest decrease decrease decrease de de- crease occurred In the Mississippi Valley states where land reached a avery avery avery very high valuation The smallest decrease occurred in the New England England England Eng Eng- land states where the drop was 1 2 to 4 U an acre The average price of ot plow lands was over an acre on March 1st 1923 in only three states Iowa Illinois and J Cal Cal- the average in those states being in Iowa in Illinois and in California GETTING GElTING NATIONAL PARKS READY REi FOR V The Department ep r len t of the Interior announces to fo the American public that the national parks of ot which there are 20 are being put in shape for summer tourists Free camping grounds will be provided for those thos who wish to take their vacation outside outside out out- r side aide hotels although the hotels are increasing their facilities for tor handlIng handling handl hand ing lug visitors this year The national parks are expecting to take care of between and va vs between the opening of the season season and Its closing Some parks are open oPen all the year due to their being situated In an all year round outdoor climate T The e park season however as a whole opens about the first of June and closes about the first of ot October U. U S. S INDIAN STATISTICS According to tabulation furnished by the Indian Bureau Dureau of the Depart Department ment meat of at the Interior there are distinct Indian tribes in the United States today with a combined population population population lation of ot Of this number are are attending schools supported sup ported by the government The government government government gov gov- also supports 78 73 hospitals for exclusive use of Indians Over fife Indians Indians' are afe now engaged in I farming and raising sufficient food f for r their own support POSTAL SAVINGS SINGS S. INGS SHOW GAIN Conclusive evidence that prosperity prosper prosper- ity is is' is isa a general condition throughout through through- out the country Is is' furnished by the report of postal savings for the month monthS S of February That month was the first In more than two years which showed an increase of postal savings over withdrawals The Increase of postal savings for February over January despite the fact tact that It was wasa a short month was waa e e FARM F. TAXES T. GO UP Taxes on farm lands have haye more moro than doubled during the past eight years The increase Is attributed largely to the Increase in assessed valuation lon based on high land prices I during and following the war war It is also attributed in part to Increased cost of state and local government which necessitated Increases in local taxes which are levied largely upon land MUST riOT NOT T A uSE OD Postmaster General Harry S. S New ew announces the use of the C. C O. O D. D on parcel post as a collection collection collection tion agency will wUl not be tolerated Neither will wUl concerns be permitted to ship parcel post C C. CO O. O D D. D to prospective prospective prospective pros pros- customers All such shipments shipments ship ship- ments menta must be in response to bona bonafide fide tide orders I QUICK ACTION ON LAW Plans Flans for livestock loan inspectors inspectors- in accordance with the terms of the new Agricultural Credits Credits Cre Cre- Credits act are being prepared In the U. U S S. S Department of Agriculture The law provides that the Secretary of Agriculture may issue a license upon presentation of satisfactory evidence that the applicant is fa competent competent competent com com- to inspect livestock as a basis for tor loans The licenses are subject to suspension or revocation for mis mis- conduct The licenses are not employed employed employed em em- by by the Department of Agriculture Agriculture Agriculture Agri Agri- culture but by the agricultural credit credit credit cre cre- dit corporations and other financial organizations which desire to have havethe havethe havethe the Inspections made U. U S. S GETS DIG BIO ROYALTIES The total net royalties to the United States government from oil and gas production upon leased pub- pub Us lis lands aggregate over up to March 1st The leased lands in Wyoming produced the greatest roy royalties allies with California a close second The Department of the Interior reports reports reports re re- ports that up to March 1st it had Is Issued Issued issued is- is sued a total of oil and gas prospecting permits VOLUME OF OP IMPORTS IS CAUSING CAUS CAUS- ING ISO CONGESTION IN PORTS So congested is the por port of New NewYork NewYork NewYork York because of the volume of Importations im- im Importations Im Im- that the Merchants Merchants' Association Association Asson Asso Asso- elation of New York has made representations to the Treasury department department department depart depart- ment asking that measures be taken to expedite the handling ct cf the tho lm- lm ports It is announced that unless the congestion at the New York custom custom custom cus cus- tom house is relieved several large New York Importers will be forced to have goods routed through Philadelphia or Dos Boston ton It ItU Itis U is claimed by the importing interests ot of New York that they are losing thousands of ot dollars dally by reason of ot the congestion In business there and the consequent delay One importing Importing im Im- Im porting concern states tates it should have had salesmen on the road three weeks ago for tor a certain line of goods good but has hal been compelled to wait walt until uni un ell til the goods are handled A large of English hosiery claims he has baa lost In a single le order I because of ot his Inability to deliver deller on time Another large Importing I I house houle says lays that the congestion In New York li is BO so great that one steam ship hip which landed a tremendous cargo cargo car car- go 10 of Imported goods returned on its second trip with another cargo before be be- fore tore any of the goods of ot the vast rut car I to go had bad been handled bandied This ThU gives ant an I indication of the quantity of Imports Im Ian- ports w which leb are coming comins into the country t i |