Nebraska Newspapers

    THE HERALD.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
plattsmouthT nebbaska.
OVFIOHi
On Main Street, between 4th and 5th,
Second Story.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF CASS COUNTY.
Terms, In Advance :
One copy, one year $3.00
One copy, six months.. irjo
On cepy, three months .50
NEBRA
8KA
ERA
JO
JNO. A. MACMTJBPHY, Editor.
VOLUME X.
PERSEVERANCE CONQUERS."
TERMS: $2.00 a Year
PLATTSMOUTII, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874,
NUMBER 37.
THE HERALD.
ADVKIITISI.0 HATES.
SPACE.
1 square..
2 square
8 squares.
If column.
yi column.
1 column,
1 w. 9 w. 3 w. 1 m. 3 m. 6 m
1 jr.
1 00 $1 Ml 3 00 $ 2 M 5 00 $0O f 19 00
1 l il IKM 75 8 HI lit (All Id IMt
( s 7r, 4 not 4 7:. h r,o n no o on
5 on 8 00' 10 Oil 1U Oil 90 on 2H no 3 00
8 0O! 19 on 15 no 1H Oil 5 (1 10 (Mil Ml 00
lb on 18 on n on a." now on m mntm no
All Advertising bills duo qnartcrly.
YST Traualont advcrUscnicnU must bo paid for
In advance.
Extra copies of the TIsbald for sale by n. J.
Straight, at the I'rwtnfflra, aud O. F. Juhiutou, cor
ner of Main and Fifth streets.
HENRY BCECK,
DZAUB VH
Iuix-nituTx-e,
SAFES, CHAIRS,
Lounges, Tables, Bedsteads,
ETC., ETC., ETC.,
Of All Descriptions.
METALLIC BURIAL CASES.
Wooden Coflinn
Of all sizes, ready-made, and sold cheap for cash.
With many thanks for past patronage, I write
all to eali and examine my
LARGE STOCK OF
ITiiriiitiiro mil Colli nn.
jan28
AKD
MEDICINES
J. H. BUTTERY'S,
On Main Street, bet. Fifth and Sixth.
Wholesale SLd Retail Dealer In
Drugs and Medicines, Paints, Oils,
Varnishes. Patent Medicines,
Toilet Articles, etc., etc.
tyPRESCRIPTIONS carefully compounded at
all hours, day and night. 35-Iy
J. V. SHANNON'S
Eeed, Sale and Livery
STAHTiK,
Main Street, Plattsmouth, Tfeb.
I am prepared to accommodate the public with
Carriages, Buggies, Wagons,
m AND
A No. I Hearse,
On Snort Notice and Reasonable Terms.
A II A C K
Will Run to the Steamboat Land
ing', Depot, and all parts of
the City, 'when Desired.
janl-tf
First National Bank
Of Plattsmouth, Nebraska,
SUCCESSOR TO
Tootlo, I lit linn fc Cltirlc.
JoHN FlTTOMtALD
K. (J. DovET
A. W. McUl BRUS
JollS U'KofBKE
President,
Vico-President.
Cashier.
Assistant Cashier.
Thin D.ink Is now open for business at their new
room, corner Main and Sixth streets, aud am fire
pared to transact a general
BANKING BUSINESS.
Stocks, Bonds. Gold. Government
and Local Securities
BOUGHT AND SOLD.
Deposits Received and Interest Al
lowed on Time Certificates.
DRAFTS DRAWN,
Available in any part of the United States and in
all the ?rinci"pal Towns aud Cities of Europe.
ACENTS FOR THE
CELEBRATED
INMAN LINE and ALLAH LINE
OF STILV3IEK8.
Persons wishing to bring out their friends from
ilurope can
rrnoHASB tickets rno rs
Tit t-oiifli to nnttsssmoiitli
Excelsior Barber Shop.
.T. C. BOONE,
Main Street, opposite Brooks House.
HAIR-CUTTING,
Shaving and Shampooing.
ESPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO
CUTTIXG CHILDREN'S HAIR
Call and See Boone, Gents,
And get a boon in a
O Xj 3E3 V. 2NT & XX j3l. "7" 33 .
n41-ly
OO XO THE
Post Office Book Store,
H. J. STREIQHT, Proprietor,
FOB TSCR
Boots, Stationery, Pictures, Mnsic,
TOYS, CONFECTIONERY,
Violin Strings,
Newspapers, Novels,
Song Books, etc., etc.
TOST OFFICE BLILDIXi,
" FLATTSMOUTn. NEB.
SEWS OF THE WEEK. I
Compiled from Telegrams of Accompanying Dates.
Monday, Not. 30.
Ix Hamilton County, N. Y., recently a car
penter named Elias Williams, engaged in
erecting a building, got into a quarrel with,
an employe of his named George Smith, while
lK)th men were drunk. In the course of the
struggle 'Williams threw Smith over a wooden
taw-horse and sawed off his head, severing it
entirely from the body. 'Williams scon after
ward cut his own throat
A woMis in New York city, nsuncd Jancsch
lias bet-n held to await the action of the
Grand Jury on the charge of having deliber
ately placed lier little child Carrie on a hot
stove and holding her there till she was fatal
ly Imrned.
The official count of the rote of Missouri
jives Hardin, Democrat, for Governor, 37,462
majority. The vote on the Constitutional
Convention, with three counties to hear from,
gives 1,108 majority for a convention.
A circular letter from Archbishop Ma,
ning has been read in all the Catholic church
es in England, declaring that all persons who
do not accept the dogma of papal infallibility
cease to be Catholics.
In a riot at Shoustown, Pa., on thft 29th four
Italian miners were killed and several others
wounded by a number of citizens engaged in
suppressing the disturbances.
The Secretary of the Treasury has directed
the Assistant Treasurer lit New York to sell
$500,000 of gold each Thursday during De
cember. The New York Efjning Pout says, authori
tatively, that James. Russell Lowell has been
offered, and has 'icclined, the Russian mis
sion. The King of the Sandwich Islands has ar
rived at San I-Vancisco, en route for Washln;
ton.
Madrid telegrams say the Republicdi army
now luimbcrs 200,000, rully armed,
Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Later accounts from Tuscumbia, Ala.,
yft&cc the number of lives lost by the tornado
vn that place at sixty, and the value of prop
erty destroyed at $600,000. About sixty per
sons were Iso wounded. Four hundred
people -r houseless and great destitu
tion prevails. Tuscumbia is a town of
abit 1,500 inhabitants, situated on
the Memphis fc Charleston Kail-
road, seventy-five miles west of Hunts
villc and two miles from the Tennessee River.
Walter Straix, of Buffalo, N. 1 arrived
at Des Moines, Iowa, on the 2Sth ult., from
the Black Hills, where he had been prospect
ing since August. He made a thorough
prospect and reports some " pocket" gold
found, but not enough to pay. He declares
that there is not a shadow of truth in the
statements made as to the discoveries of gold
in that country. Two of his comrades were
thot by the Indians, of whom the hills are
fulL
. The boy in the family of F. W. Peyton, at
Barboursville, W. Va., who Mas supposed to
have been the missing Charlie Ross, was
found, upon investigation, to have escaped
from a neigboring poor-house.
Mator Havemeter, of New York, died of
apoplexy on the 30th ult. Alderman Vance
took the oath of office of Mayor on the after
noon of the same day to serve until the expira
tion of the term.
The Board of Managers of the National
Temperance Society have resolved to hold a
National Temperance Convention at some
point in the West the coming year.
It is officially announced at Madrid that
Gen. Saballs, the Marquis de Villadarco and
other prominent persons have abandoned the
cause of Don Carlos.
Wednesday, Dec. 2.
The statement of the condition of the pub
lic debt Dec. 1 is as follows:
Six per cent, bonds $1,167,:274,7,
Five per cent, bonds 553,52o,J00
Total coin bonds $1,719,799,900
Lawful money debt 14,678,0
Matured debt 18,4,0-'
Lecal-tender notes 8X2.075. 2ft"
Certificates of deposit 47,120,000
Fractional currency 47.3Hn.osw
Coin certificates 21,045,400
Interest 33,251,111
Total debt...
$2,285,801,406
Cash in Treasury
Coin Currency
Special deposits held for the re
demption of certificates of deposit.
Total in Treasury
Debt less cash in Treasury
Decrease during November
Decrease since June 30, 1S74
$83,043,702
16,699,311
47,120,000
, $146,863,073
$2,138,938.33 1
133.4-.r7
4,149,907
Bonds issued to the Tacilic Railway
Companies, interest payable in
lawful money, principal outstand
ing $64,623,512
Interest accrued and not yet paid... 1,615.587
Interest paid by the United States.. 21,323,3!Xi
Interest repaid by the transporta
tion of mails, etc 5,510,041
Balance of interest paid by United
States 18,815,352
The Ohio Legislature met in adjourned
session at Columbus on the 1st. The annual
message of Gov. Allen was read in each house.
The total local indebtedness of the State is
21,886,007.36; reimbursable debt, 7,988,
205.30; total, 29, 874,212.06. The irreducea
ble debt is 4,122,191.80. The aggregate debts
in Ohio, State, local and trust fund, 33,997,
204.52. The taxes levied in 1873, collectable
in 1874, aggregate $2(5,474,459. The taxes levied
hi 1874, collectable in 1875, aggregate 27,614,
729. The taxable valuation in Ohio, as shown
by the grand duplicate of 1874, is: Real es
tate in cities, towns and villages, 354,849,
197; real estate not in cities, towns and vil
lages, $697,40$,5S7; personal property, $528,
121,5tS8. Total, $ 1,580,379, 324, which is an in
crease over the grand duplicate of 1873 of
$13,104,805.
The report of the Commissioner tojprepare
instructions to Postmasters concerning the
prepayment of newspapers and periodical
postage after Jan. 1, 1875, sustains the recom
mendations of Third Assistant Postmaster
Gen. Barber as to a plan for carrying out
the law in the most convenient and sim
ple manner. Instead of placing stamps
on separate periodicals t or papers, or
on the packages containing them, according
to weight, the forms already printed show a
current accoflnt with publishers, and after the
printed matter ia. weighed the requisite
amount of stamps Is posted in the form of a
receipt given to the publisher or bis agent at
tbe time of mailing, the credit and tlte receipt
having a corresponding number.
The American Cheap Transportation Con
vention met at Richmond, Va., on the 1st
About scventy-tive delegates were present,
the Hon. Josiah Quincy, of Massachusetts,
presiding. A report on transportation was
read by F.B.Thurber, of New York, in which
he argued in favor of trans-contiuental rail
roads in preference to canals. Committees
were appointed.
TheNcw Hampshire Republican State Con
vention for the nomination of candidates for
Governor and Railroad Commissioner is to
be held at Concord on the 12th of January.
The French National Assembly reassem
bled on the 30th ult M. Buffet was re
elected President on the 1st by a vote of 348
to three scattering.
The Carlists hac : .iege to Bcrga.
Tmirsday, Dec. 3.
The steamer La Plfta, chartered to repair
the telegraph cable, foundered off Usbant on
the 29th ult Sixty persons were drowned.
Fourteen persona were rescued by a Glasgow
steamer after floating for about two hours.
Among the lost were the Captain and all
the officers, and Mr. Rickets, the chief elec
trician.
The returns from the Michigan State elec
tion show the vote for State Treasurer to be
as follows: William B. McCrecry, Republi
can, 110,4; Sterling, Democrat, 98,049; Pro
hibition and Reform candidates, 4,119; mak
ing KcCreery's majority over all 8,318. The
remainder of the Republican State ticket will
show about 7,000 majority.
The New Hampshire Prohibition State
Convention met at Concord on the 2d and
nominated Nathaniel White, cf Concord, for
Governor David Heald, of Milford, for Rail
road Commissioner, and the following for
Congress: First District, the Rev. A.
C Hardy; Second District, J. M. Fletch
er; Third District, Edward II. Weston.
A recent Montgomery (Ala.) dispatch re
ports a wcting of colored men, representing
twenty cotton counties of Alabama, to con
coct measures for a wholesale emigration to
States where the colored men arc in the ma
jority. The emigration feeling is represented
as very strong.
The annual report of the Register of the
Treasury says the total tonnage of the coun
try exhibits an apparent Increase of 104,626
tons, 5,635 tons in registered tonnage and
98,991 tons in the enrolled and licensed
tonnage.
The first annual session of the Alabama
State Grange met at Montgomery on the 2V
W. II. Chambers, W. M presiding One
hundred delegates were present.
The case of the Rev. Jo s. Glendenning
before the Jersey Citv ebvtcry has been
concluded, result in a verdict of acquittal
on all the founts.
Yh entire business portion of the village
ji Wilton," N. lln has been destroyed by fire,
the loss aggregating about 100,000.
Wilbcr F. Storet, of the Chicago Time,
was married on the 2d to Mrs. Eureka C.
Pearson.
The Tweed habta eorpu case has been dis
missed by Judge Barrett, and Tweed was re
manded to prison.
Dr. Kexealt, the counsel of the Tichborne
claimant, has been dismissed from the British
bar.
Slavery is to be abolished in Ashantec by
order of the British authorities.
The banking firm of Henry Clews & Co.,
New York, has been adjudged bankrupt
Friday, Dec. 4.
A telegram from Carlist sources says
the Government troops in Valencia had been
totally defeated by the Carlists, with a loss of
GOO killed and wounded and 450 prisoners.
Dockerat, the American who had been
sentenced to death as a spy by the Cuban au
thorities, has been pardoned.
Tns message of President MacMahon was
presented to the French Assembly on the 3d
The President announces his intention to oc
cupy the post which he has been called to fill,
to the last day, with unshaken firmness and
scrupulous respect for law.
A Washington telegram 6ays it is
known in diplomatic circles that Spain
had paid to Great Britain only a part of her
indemnity on account of the Virginius affair,
leaving the remainder and other questions
to be hereafter adjusted.
The Supreme Court of the United States has
recently decided that the Confederate Gov
ernment of the Southern States had no ex
istence except as a conspiracy to overthrow
lawful authority, and that all contracts grow
ing out of purchases from it are void as con
trary to public policy.
A New Orleans dispatch says Judge
Durell has forwarded his resignation to the
President
Saturday, Dec. 5.
Prince Bismarck has announced to the
German Reichstag that the Vatican legation
has been abolished, and the sum appropriated
for its maintenance has been stricken from
the budget.
Madrid dispatches mention a mutiny in
one of the regiments ordered north.
Thirty arrest? have becu made. The Car-
list leader Sohano was captured on the 3d
while traveling on a railway train to Cor
dova. On the 4th he was shot, having been
adjudged guilty of assassination and robbery.
The Postmaster-General has issued an order
forbidding letter-carriers circulating New
Year's addresses calculated to induce the
public to make them gifts.
The last official document issued by the
late Mr. Havemeyer, Mayor of New York city,
was a communication to the President of the
Commissioners of Charities and Corrections,
protesting against the alleged partiality
shown toward Mr. Tweed in his prison con
iinement, and asking an inquiry into the
same.
In the contested election case between Mr.
McDill and Judge Cate for the scat in Con
gress from the Eighth Wisconsin District,
the State Board of Canvassers has decided in
favor of Judge Cate, declaring him elected by
two majority.
The trial of David A. Gage, ex-Treasurer of
the citj of Chicago, for misuse of the city
funds, terminated at Waukegan on the 4th in
a verdict of " not guilty."
Rev. George D. Gillespie, of Ann Arbor,
has been chosen Bishop of the newly-created
Western Diocese of Michigan
THE MARKETS.
New Yoniv. Cotton 14i14Xc Flour Good
6
S1.13tbl-14. Hue Western. 9Vcr,Vc. Jlarltv
$1.5(j.l.56. Corn 8t&91c. Oat West
ern, 69(7r.70c. Pork Hew mesi, $21.25(ft21.50.
Lard 14Tr.l4!ic. Cheese 124(g.l5Xe. Wool
Domestic fleece, 455i8c. Beetei $10.00tfil3.00.
Hog Dressed, $9.757f.9.00; live, $6.87HB7.874.
Siirp hire, $4.75S6.50.
Chicaoo. Beere Choice, $5.50r?6.00; pood.
$4.50(5.00; medium, $4.OO0?.4.5O; butchers'
stock, $2.504.25; stock cattle, $2.50(2.75.
Hoy Live, good to choice, $6.75g.7.35. Shetp
Good to choice, $-3.65(4.25. Butter Choice yel
low, 32St3t?c. Egn Fresh, 2W27c. Pork
Mess, new, $19.5rt19.75. Lard 13Tri3Vc.
Chtte JJew York Factory. 15fffl5Hc: Western
Factory, 14(3.14Hc. Flour White winter extra,
$4.755.50; sprint? extra, $4.25J5.50. Wheat
Spring, No. 2. 91&91?c. Corn "So. 2,
72tt4i73c. Oat So. 2, 52iSVHc. Jlye'So.
2, 9495c. BarleySo. 2, $1.28.1.23'4. Wool
Tnb-wahed, 45o7c; fleece, washed, 40
47c; fleece, unwashed, 2734c. Lumber
First Clear, $50.00(52.00; Second Clear, $16.00
48.00; Common Boards, $11.012.00; Fencin-r,
$11.00Ca.l2.00; "A" Shingles, $3.00&3.2j; Lath,
$2.0O5jJ.25.
Cincinnati. .FoMr $5.00t5.50. Wheat Red.
$l.lXaM.12. Corn New, 7072c. Jly$HM(i
1.06. Oat 5560c. Barley $1.301.35. Pork
$20.50(&20.75. Lard 13!414!c.
St. Louis. Cattle- Fair to choice. $4.50lfi.OO.
Hoat Live, $6.R57.40. Flour XX Fall, $4.25
(84.50. Wheat No. Red Fall, $1.081.09.
Corn No. i, new, 69(570c. Oat No. 2, f5?A
56c. Bye 9ftJ?.95c. Barley $1.33&1.40. Pork
Mess, $19.5O20.12H. Lard- 13H(a.l3Xc
MlLWAtTMB. ir-Spring XX, $5.25(?5.50.
Wheat Spring. No. 1, 445,95c; No. 2, 90V4
91c. Com No. 8, 74(fe75c. OattXo. 2,
5H(Tr-55c. Bye No. 1, 1.00(1.01. Barley No. 2,
$1.25&1.&H-
Clev elan d. Wheat No. 1 Red. $1 .10tt1 -1 1 4 ;
No. 2 Red, $1.05(8.1.06. Corn New, 7475c.
OatsSo. 1, 58&59c.
Detroit. Wheat Extra, $1.17!4&1.18. Corn
74'ia.75c. QaUSVQMc.
Toi.Ervi. H'Ac' Amhor Mich., 1.09s!i.l.l;
No. 2 Red, $1.081.09. Corn Mixed new.
707O4c. Oat No. 1. 56i467c.
Buffalo. Beer $4 90(fn6.00. Jlogt Live,
$e.25.7.35. A'AyLive, $3.752)5.00.
East Liber-it. Cattle Best. $rt. 606.75;
medium, $5.5056.25. Hog Yorkers. $6.50r-Ji.8O;
Philadelphia. $7.257.60. Sheep Best, $1.7560
5.00; good, $4.0U&4.50.
Short dresses are en regie, except for
number nines.
The System or Postal Service on Kail
rrajs.
Washington, Nov. 27.
George 8. Bangs, Superintendent of the
Railway Postal Service, has completed his
annual report. From this rrm rt it annfars
that, at the close of thw fiscal year ending
iuncou, ion, mere were m operation fiftv
nine linen of nil way J06tofficeur8, extending
over i,9x mites oi railroaa, on which Was
performed 34,925 miles cf eervioe daily and
LA4.b- miles ol service annuallv, by 753
railway postofflce clerKs. These clerks are
classified as rouows: '83 head clerks.
rfy clerKe, and ninety assistant clerks. By
the establishment of new lines of railroad the
postal facilities have been greatly increased
Lunng me inreatcnea rerustilor the railroads
to carry the mails an offer of tbe Bflltihlon; ife
Ohio was accepted by the department This
gave daily service between CiMcihnnti, )., and
Chicago, 111., 310 milon. This completes a
through line between Washington and Chi
cago, and forms a connection betwteen the
roads centering at Cincinnati, Indianapolis
and Chicago.
Of the present condition of the railway post
office service Mr. Bangs says: " The railway
postoflice enrs are now in operation on moet
of tbe most important connectinir, and trunk
lines of railroad, giving the most direct and
available transit ta the mails between the
office of orLrin and destination, and forming
nearly a, perfect connection between the vetp
ous railroads upon which service l performed
by route agentsv
"The PennsvlvsVi
haps the most extended and important in the
country for mail transportation, is now used
to a great extent in the forwarding of through
and dire.ct, mails: but owin ti the noor
IoUl faculties at present ftlriilshed by that
roan, it cannot b? utilized to any great extent
in ine aiPinmuion or mails lu transit As
this Company has expressed its willingness to
grant improved accommodations the benefit
to be derived would fullv warrant the dei
partmcnt in the acceptttUtb of the same.
The necessity of this addition to the postal
car lines can best be judged by the follow
ing statement of the bulk of mails passing
between the East and West: New York
city originates fifty-fiw to sixty tons of mail
matter daily, as shown by their official
statement. "Forty-five to fifty tons of this is
forwarded on the trunk lines leading to the
West and Southwest. Three of these lines
the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York A Erie
Railroad, and New York Central A . Hudson
River Railroad carry dailv over their whole
length an average of 93,000 pounds of mail,
and as the bulk of this mail is deposited in the
offices at the latest hour possible to make the
trainsv r ni-rivcs on. connecting trains, it
must be distributed in transit taxing the
present accommodations to the utmost es
pecially as the Erie Railroad is the only one
upon Which the department have such ac
commodations as are required. The proprie
ty of establishing a fast and exclusive mail
train between New York aud Chicago has
been discussed for some time and there ap
pears to be a growing necessity for the same,
this train to be under the control of the de
partment so far as it is necessary for the put
poses demgned, and to run the distance in
about twenty-four hours. It is conceded by
railroad officials that this can be done-.
The importance or a line like this Cannot
be overestimated. It would reduce the
actual time of the mail between the East and
West from twelve to twenty-four hours, as it
would necessarily be established upon one
or more of the trunk lines having an ex
tended system of connections. Its benefits
would be in no wise confined, but extended
to all parts of the country alike. It would
also, if this line be established, be practicable
to reduce to one line daily, beside this through
line, the service upon the three trunk lines
to the West. This reduction would compen
sate for all the additional expense incurred by
the fast mail train, especially as, by the opera
tion of the law governing mail transportation,
the more mail concentrated upon a single line
of railway the less is the aggregate cost of
transportation per pound or ton per mile."
With rcfercuce to the complaints of some
railroads that the compensation is inadequate,
Mr. Bangs thinks it advisable to recommend
legislation placing the compensation to rail
roads on the basis of weight alone.
With regard to the extra cost of the railway
postal service the Superintendent thinks
erroneous opinions obtain, and that the amonnt
($1,092,620) is more apparent than real, owing
to the fact that many minor distributing
offices and a large amount of clerk hire along
the railroad routes and at the termini,
not now required, would be necessary in
the absence of the present system. The
superintendency would be necessary under
any system, as the distribution and dispatch
of mails would require the same general su
pervision as now to secure the best possible
results.
Not the least consideration in favor of the
railway postoflice is the avoidance of delays
resulting from any other system than the dis
tribution of mails in transit.
The Indian ISnreau.
Wabhingtox, Nov. 27. -The
following are the main points of
the annual report of the Secretary of the
Interior to the President on the Indian
question. The report bears date Oct.
31, 1874:
The operations of the Indian Bureau dur
ing the past year are hitrhly gratifying. They
furnish conclusive evidence of the justice,
wisdom and practicability of the policy in
augurated by the present Administration.
The success of this policy is no longer a prob
lem. If steadily pursuctl, we shall soou sec
all roving tribes located upon reservations.
We may reasonably expect occasional disturb
ances in the future caused by individuals, or
by disorderly bodies of Indians, but with a
judicious and efficient execution of the pres
ent mode of treatment it is not believed that
we shall see another general, or even serious,
Indian war.
The present method of dealing with the
Indian race alms to induce, and when neces
sary to compel, the roaming tribes to accept
reservations as rapidly as possible. On such
reservations they are instructed in agriculture
and in other pursuits incident to civilization,
and with the aid of our Christian organ
izations their intellectual, moral and relig
ious culture is advanced as rapidly as practi
cable. When a tribe refuses to accept a res
ervation, and continues to violate the laws of
civilization, it is treated with all needful se
verity, and thus made to appreciate the ad
vantages of accepting the kind and humane
treatment which the Government surely ex
tends to such as are disposed to peac? By
the judicious exercise of power and per
suasion, as thus indicated, it is the aim of
the Government to deal kindly and justly
with this unfortunate race, and to make
them appreciate, as speedily as possible, the
real motives arid purposes of the Governmen t
The execution of this policy is necessarily at
tended with difficulties which cannot at once
be entirely overcome. I am happy in being
able to say that the earnest active and cordial
co-operation of several Christian organiza
tions to which the right of nominating agents
has been assigned, and upon whose nomina
tions alone sucn agents are appointed, is con
stantly improving this clas9 of employes, and
thus we arc, each year, to some extent, ad
vancing the service by obtaining agents more
experienced and intelligent, and of greater
capacity for their secular us well as their moral
and religious work.
The Indian population of the United States,
since the first occupation of our territory by
white men, has been compelled to recede as
the white population has advanced. The
natural result has been the creation of a
feeling among Indians that they hfl ve suffered
great injustice at our hands. ' itey have
strong local attachments, and a. -re with
tenacity to the home of their fath . They
once occupied without dispute va. i regions
of country which have been wrested from
them. Under no circumstances can it be sup
posed that they will accept the complete
change in their modes of life and in their man
agement by the Government which is now
being effected without complaint and resist
ance, which may occasionally require the em
ployment of force; nor can it be supposed
that time is not required for the accomplish
ment of such change.
To aid in prosecuting the work of Indian
civilization I recommend the extension of the
Homestead laws to Indians, with certain mod
lications hereafter to be more fully stated.
These laws at present apply to citizens
of the United States only, and their
provisions cannot be enjoyed except by that
small portion of the Indian race who are
lcirally entitled to the privileges of citizen
ship. Tlie department has arrived at the conclu
sion that when an Indian tribe is dissolved
and its tribal relations ended, with the con
sent of the United States, either by treaty or
legislative enactment the members of such
tritc become ijm facto citizens of the United
States, and entitled to all the privileges and
immunities belonging to other citizens.
The department has also decided tllan an
Indian cannot voluntnrilv dissolve his rela
tion with his tribe, and thereby become a
citizen of tho United fRltcs; tha before t iti
zcnshinctltt be created the tribal relation
must be dissolved bv the tribe m a tribe, and
that, too, with the consent of the General
Government, as shown by treaty or act of
Congress-.
Reviewing these opinions, I feel rtssut-e'l of
tiieir correctness. It was. Hi mv iud-rmeut
inconsistent with sound law, as well as with
Euouc policy, to permit an individual Indian,
y voluntarily withdrawing from his tribe, to
oeeome a citizen without some act or the Gov
ernment rccocniizinjr his citizenshlb.
Under these clreumsttthcbs, aiid in view of
tuc importance or this subject, I deem it
proper to invite the attention of Ctinirrcss to
the ri rrmhVuiidatin bf thj CHtrim!?Sioiitr Cf
Hie Utiiirl Laud Office In favor of lerisliition
111 behalf of Indians who desire to withdraw
from their former associations,, become . citi-
cens oi inp vnuea states, ann avail tnem
sclvcs of the benefit bf the Homestead laws.
An extension to the Indians Of the Henelits
of the Homestead laws, under the safeguards
mentioned, and such others as the wisdom of
Congress may suggest. Mill greatly facilitate
inc worK oi tneir civilization:
the black hills.
The ruilitarv rctonnbissance of the Black
Hills country Was regarded bv the Indians as
a vloJatli of their treaty, and produced a
tUi Ouient leeling amonr them, its objects,
however, were peacefully accomplished. Ex
travagant statements concerning the mineral
wealth of the country created "great excite
ment anionc the pooplc, nnd exploring par
ties were organized tor the purpose of pros
f.tttlnsr .thte country. Subsequent informa
tion establishes the fact that no evidence of
valuable mineral deposits was furnished, and
that the lands in that region are undesirable
ror cultivation ana. settlement by white men.
Notwithstanding this, organized parlies have
nttchlpted.to explore It, and have beeu at
tacked and repulsed by the Indians. It is
apprehended that efforts will be made to in
duce legislation for the extinguishment of
the Indian title to the Black Hills country
and to bring the land into market. It is
nopca that sucn etiorts will be without suc
cess, because of the general unfitness of the
country for settlement, and because anv at
tempt to dispossess the Indians at present of
a region oi country upon which they located
for security against the encroachments of the
white man would ttictt with violent and de
termined resistance.
a T -
Report ot" Secretary Bellknap.
Washington, Dec. 8."
The Secretary of War states that the actual
expenditures of the War Department for the
year ending June 80, 1S73, including river and
harbor improvements, were $40,325,308.21,
and the same for the last fiscal year, ending
June 30, 1874, were $42,326,314.71, showing a
reduction or $3,tiyN,yo3.oO. t he report will
also contain the following recommendations:
Monthly additions to be allowed to the
pay of ofilcrs ftcttng as Assistant Quarter
iiiastcrs; a renewal of rtcoititneridntiODS for
the purchase of sitbs of potts in Texas,
in accordance with the report pre
viously made to Congress; a svstem of
mileage, and the payment of officers and
employes traveling on duty to be restored, in
lieu of the actual expenses, as now allowed
under the law of last 3ear; that private sol
diers be permitted to compete for the posi
tion of Commissary Sergeant as well as non
commissioned officers; the exemption of sub
sistence stores from the operation of tbe law
requiring the proceeds or sales or public prop
erty to be covered into the Treasury as mis
cellaneous at the expiration of each fiscal
year; the law to be so changed that appropria
tions for subsistence stores can be made avail
able prior to the commencement of the fiscal
year for which they are appropriated! that
provision be made for the publication i 5,000
additional copies of the Medical and Surgical
History of the War. Attention is called to
the recommendation of the Chief of Engi
neers for an additional appropriation for
ammunition for targetliring, which is recom
mended. Much larger appropriations than
have heretofore been made should be ruadij
annually for the manufacture of artns. An
increased appropriation is desired for arming
and equipping the militia. Steps should be
taken to relieve the various States from the in
debtedness for arms charged to them during
the rebellion. Sales of various arsenals, such
as those at Allegheny, Columbus, Detroit,
Pikcsvllle, Watertown and Washington, are
recommended. The Springfield Armory, the
Frankfort Arsenal and a few others are
recommended to be retained. The proceeds
of those 6old should be applied to the erection
of one grand arsenal for manufacturing pur
poses, to be established near New York. The
proceeds of the aalcs of those named would
be amply sufficient for that purpose, and there
is no necessity for their retention.-
A powder depot and experimental grounds,
for testing heavy ordinance, are estimated for.
The revised statutes which were enacted
into a law at the last session of Congress in
cluded much absolute legislation, which has
been inconsiderately included, and attention
Is called thereto. Desertion should be con
sidered felonj', cognizable by courts of crim
inal jurisdiction; the offenders should be ar
rested by Marshals and deputies, like other
criminals, but the jurisdiction should be con
current with that of the military courts. Ju
risdiction is recommended to be conferred on
military persons charged with murder and
other felonies.
The reduction of the army is discouraged at
present A reduction of the number of men
without a reduction of officers and posts is
not economical.
A larger appropriation for the publication
of official records of the war of the rebellion,
both of the Union and Confederate armies, is
desirable. This should become immediately
available. The President should be author
ized to drop from the rolls of the officers of
the army those M ho intentionally and crimi
nally duplicate their pay-accounts in other
M-ords, present accounts for the same month
more than orfee and obtain payment thereou.
The provisions of the act of May, 1S74, as
to the extensiou of time during leave of ab
sence in which full pay can be. drawn should
apply to all officers stationed in the Depart
ment of Texas. Calling attention to the
names of those officers who have been sent
to the Senate for brevet appointment for ser
vice in the field in action with the Indians,
the confirmation of those brevet appoint
ments is recommended. The pay of Ser
geants Ehould be increased. An appropria
tion for a permanent military prison is rec
ommended. Payment of soldiers by checks is discour
aged, and attention to the Paymaster-Gener-nl's
application for the appointment of addi.
tional Paymasters is invited.
Appropriations for walls and lodges at cer
tain national cemeteries are recommended.
The recommendation is made that the bill
M-hich passed the House of Representatives
authorizing the President to establish a regu
lation for the army should be taken up and
f mssed by the Senate.OBoJ9 should be en
istcd as field musicians, as formerly. When
vacancies occur in the office of Regimental
Quartermaster and Adjutant, no reappoint
ment 6bould be made to these positions, but
the duties now performed by them should be
performed bf detailed officers.
The establishment of a professorship of
rhetoric and English literature at West Point
is recommended!
THE OBDN'AIfCE BUREAU.
The Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, in his
annual report, recommends the rearmament
of the navy with breech-loading rilled cannon,
which can be done at a very small cost in
view of the reduced number of ships and of
guns required. The present types of
foreign armed cruising ships carry four
and one-half and six inches of armor,
and at present we have no guns except the
iifteen-inch in the monitors which will
seriously injure the lightest of these armored
vessels. Substitute a seven or eight inch rifle
for the eleven-inch smooth ' bore, which even
our smallest ships carry, and few of them
would come off M'ithout great damage.
The Chief of Ordnance says the recent ex
periment on the conversion of smooth-bore to
rifled cannon developed no unexpected re
sults, and ne does not deem it possible to con
vert a cast-iron smooth-bore into an efficient
rifle by any system of rifling.
Prison architecture has reached the
acme of perfection at Due West, S. C.
They have a building there in which
windows and doors are entirely dis
pensed with. The prisoners are hoisted
outside by means of a rope and dropped
in from the top. Once in it is evident
that they must stay in a place so won
derfully deficient in egressive facilities.
A captive may have kind friends out
side willing to aid him, bat what friend
ran secretly bring a derrick and rope into
the prison, and, if he could, how or by
whom is it to be worked?
Iteport of the Postniaslcr-General.
WASHINGTON, NoV. .
The report of Ihe Postmaster-General Is
completed.
. The revenues for the year ending June 30,
1874. were $24,596,508, and the expenditures
$32,126,414. The estimated expenditures for
me Tcarenamg June oU, ie, arc ?;o,'.i4,U3 1;
total estimated? revenuf, $29,14,150, leaving a
acncicncy to ne apprpnrlatcdtout of the gcfl
eral treasury of $7;815,S7S; 1 hese estimates
do not include appropriations for steamship
service and stamps, amotintiug to $2,09s,5ooi
The Use of the registered-letter system is stead
ily increasing. I Cere has been a marked fjam
hi the time of transporting through mails, an
average gain from New York to San Francis
co of llVc hours aud thirty-two minutes, a
gain tor mails to New Orleans of two hours
and fifty-seven minutes, and going north of
one hour and fifty minutes, and A perceptible
gam on all through routes in regularity anil
ccrtaintv. Ihe foreign mail svstehi is In net
tcr condition than ever before. The humtcr
of imstofiiees In operation June 30. l!S74. Mas
34,294; total number of appointments during
the vear. 9.428. Ihe results of the exten
6ions of the letter-carrier STstehi are of the
most gratifying character. There has been a
gain of over 30 per cent in the arhotmt of
lees received rrom money orders, mere has
been only one erroneous payment in 59,677
payments, and only 74 in all. 1 he increase in
money exchanges with Great Britain and
Switzerland has been very marked.
NEWSl'Ar-Elt rkJSTAGB.
1874, it is required that oh and after the 1st of
January, lb5, postage oh newspapers and
pcrioaicat publications mailed irom a Known
office of publication or news agenev. and ad
dressed to regular subscribers or ne ws agents,
shall be charged at the rate of two cents per
pound if issued M-eekly or oftencr; and at
three cents per pound if issued less frequent
ly than once a week. The act provides that
matter 6bau be weighed in bulk and prepaid
M-ith adhesive stamps to be especially devised
lor the purpose, ihe manner or applying
stamps is left discretionary M-ith the depart
ment, ana a system, M'hich it is hoped will
work satisfactorily, has been devised for
carrying the law into effect The stamps arc
now In course of preparation and Mill be
ready at the time appointed for their use. It
is expected that the revenues oi the depart
ment irom TinstftCfl on nnnlea matter will
bn increased bv the enforcement of this
act; notwithstanding that rates arc cheaper
than bcrore, as now postage win be prepaid;
while heretofore much loss has been occa
sioned to the department on account of the
non-collection of postage at the point of de
livery.
- THE MOXET-ORI'ER SYSTEM.
The money-order business of this depart
ment appears to be rapidly growing in public
favor and is undoubtedly a very great ac
commodation to a large number of persons
who are not within reach of banking facilities
or M ho are unaccustohied to the use of thenu
Yet I see no reason Mhy this branch of
service should not be made self-sustaining.
The apparent profits of the money-order
system during the last year are about
$105,000, while certain expenses to the
amount of $182,000 for clerk hire and
stationery in the Postofflce Department,
Auditor's office, and for money-order clerks in
the postoflice are not charged to the money
order business but are paid out of appropria
tions; so that, M-hile the money -order system
appears to yield a revenue of $105,000, there
is, 'in fact, a deficit of $70,000. I suggest,
therefore, that the tecs of money orders be
increased in accordance M-ith the views of the
Superintendent submitted herewith (see ap
pendix), or that the money-order system shall,
like any other business, be made to defray all
its own expenses.
TRANSPORTATION" OF MAILS.
The number and length of mail routes in
the United States require an expenditure for
transportation which dwarfs into insignifi
cance the cost of similar service in other
countries. For the year ending June 30, 1876,
it is estimated that this item alone M ill exceed
$10,000,000. The portion to be paid to rail
roads Mill amount to more than $8,000,000.
Opinions have differed widely as to the best
method of determining the rightful rates of
compensation to be paid to the railroads for
services rendered to this department. Here
tofore their pay has been based on the
weight of mails, M-ith an additional allow
ance on certain thoroughfares for providing
postal cars. At present the matter is in a very
unsatisfactory condition, and some equitable
mode of adjustment should at once be devised
and sanctioned by law. Some of the roads
have represented to the department that the
carrying ef the mails was little or no object
to thein, because the express companies
M-ere M-Uling to pay much more lor the ac
commodation furnished than the department
would allow. On the other hand, represent
atives of the leading express companies
have contended that the act, which
took effect July 1, 1874, permitting the
transmission by mail of packages of merchan
dise M-eighing not over lour pounds at me
rate of one cent for each two ounces is taking
awav the most profitable part of their busi.
ness, and will soon render them unable to
meet the heavy rentals demanded ny inc
roads. Thus is presented a curious anomaly,
the roads claiming that the Government does
not pay as much as the express companies
are readv to pav. and the express companies
claiming, on the other hand, that the law is
effecting such a dimination of their revenues
that they are unable to accede to the de
mands of the roads. I find no disposition on
the part of any railroad or transportation
company to deal otherwise with the depart
ment than m a spirit of fairness and justice.
1 trust Congress will adopt some cquuaoie
plan of adjustment which M ill not be burden
some to the Government, and . M-hich will be
satisfactory to the companies. The act of
March 3, lT.i, readjusting the pay oi rail
roads on the basis of the weight of the
mails carried, added much more largely than
Mas anticipated to the expense of the depart
ment The appropriation for that purpose
having become exhausted, I have declined to
make further payments. I would suggest
that the time has come when a resolute euort
should be made to determine how far the
Postofflce Department can properly go in its
efforts to accommodate the public M-ithout
trespassing unwarrantably upon the 6phere
of private enterprise. There must be a limit
to governmental interference, and happily it
better suits the genius of the American peo
ple to help themselves man to oepena on me
State.
TnE FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
To communicate intelligence and dissemi
nate information are primary functions of this
department Any divergence from the legiti
mate sphere of its operation tends to disturb
the first rule, that In the ordinary branches of
life the recipient of a benefit is the proper
party to pay for it, since there is no escape
from the universal law that every service
must in some wav be paid for by some one.
Moreover, in a country of vast extent like-
his, where most of the operations ol me de
partment are carried on remote from thecon
trolling center, the disposition to engage in
internal enterprises more or less foreign to
the theory of the system will tend to em
barrassments m hereby expedition Mould be
difficult. For years the franking privilege
M as an incubus on the department and an ob
stacle to efficient postal reform. Its abolition,
for M hich we are largely indebted to the reso
lution and wisdom of my predecessor, opens
the way for other measures, M-hich have yet
to be inaugurated and pressed to a success
ful Issue before the department can become
self-sustaining. While I do not flatter
myself that I shall be able to accomplish this
most desirable end during the short period
of my service, I propose to keep it steadily
In view and to direct my best efforts toward
its attainment
For the first time In the course of a life de
voted actively to business I find myself in
charge of an establishment the expenditures
of M hich largely exceed its receipts a state
of affairs which strikes with great force a
rnind more or less disciplined by that close
inspection of accounts enforced in mercan
tile pursuits. In ordinary affairs there is but
one end to this condition of affairs bank
ruptcy. The deficiency of this department
has varied of late years from 15 to 20 per cent,
while from the best data at my command
I have been compelled to submit estimates
for the year ending June 30, 1876, m hich m ill
show an expected excess of the expenditures
over receipts of nearly $8,000,000, or ntout 25
per cent of the entire revenue of the depart
ment How far the American people Mill le
willing to go in this direction remains to be
seen. The difficulties in the way of adopt
ing and enforcing a policy of economy w hich,
while properly guarding the revenues of the
department, shall also afford to the new ind
growing patrons of our country the mai. fa
cilities to which the enterprise of the people
entitle theni, are few or small, but in sone
wav thev ean and must be surmounted. I
deem it suitable to say here that I propose to
friiard with strict viirilance the expenditures
of this department, sanctioning no outlay
which can be avoided without detriment to
the service, and sp to conduct iu affairs gen
crally that the Interests of the public shall be
paramount to those of any individual, corpo
ration or party, very respcctiuiiy, your obc
dicnt servant, M ahjiali, Jewell,
rostmaiter-Ocueral.
Cnrrency Statistics.
Washington, Nov. 27
The Comptroller tif the Currency lias fin-
iflictl his report ami it Is now in the hands
of the printer. It rhfma that 2,200 National
Banks hate been rrganizert since the cstab
iishmcirt of the system. Thirty-five of these
have railed and thirtv-seven have g'nic into
voluntary liquidation by a vte of two-thirds
or the shareholders, ieaving2.02S banks in ex
Isteiu-c on the 1st of November, 1 1. The re
port contains tables showing the resources
and liabilities of the National Banks at Cone
sponding periods for the hist five years; alo
a table of their condition on the 2V.M of Uelo
tier, the date of their last report, the returns
from New iork, Boston, Philadelphia and
Baltimore and from other redemption cities
and the remaining banks being arranncd sep
arately. In the statement of Oct. 2 the loans
of the banks in the cities named are separated,
first. Into loans on United States bonds;
second. On other stocks and bonds on
demand; third, on commercial and accommo
dation paper; and fourth, loans payable in
gold.
Two bills passed the last Congress relating
to the National Banking system. The first
bill, which is quoted, failed to receive the ap
nroval rtf the. President. Tlie iirineiiml Points
of the second act arc given, which went into
effect June 20, 1S74.
The amount of currency distributed under
this act, and the etiect or the act on me re.
serves of the National Banks, arc briefly dls
Cussed.
The subject Of redemption is discussed at
great length, and the hope expressed that the
present system of exchanging mutilated notes
for new paper issues will, not long hence, be
superseded by a true system oi redemption.
namely: The payment, on demand, of National
Bank notes in coin or its representative.
The amount of National Bank notes out
standing of insolvent banks and of banks in
voluntary liquidation, winch are redeemable
at the Treasury, is $642,285. The amount of
circulation, therefore, at the disposal of tlie
Comptroller, or to be placed at his disposal
for distribution from these different sources,
is as follows: The portion of the $350,000,000
remaining unissued, $-J,0('i,7.; notes ol
banks which have deposited lawful money for
the withdrawn! of circulation, 7,?14,"550;
notes in circuUtion of banks in liquidation,
$6,492,25, amounting to $ 16,279,589.
The Comptroller expresses the opinion that
a sufficient amount of the circulation will be
redeemed to supply the applications that may
be received lor some months to come, w uen
the amount Mithdrawn and destroyed from
these sources shall have been issued" it shall
be the duty of the Comptroller to make req
uisitions upon banks located in States
having more than their proportion. This
circulation Mill be Mithdrawn chiefly from
Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachu-
Cttsi
TT.ti tttrrrrarrnin nmfintit rf ll,eiilflt Jnn here
after to be placed at the disposal of the Comp
troller from all sources Is 47,350,743.
The Mhole amount of legal-tender money
required to be held in the vaults of the banks
under the National Bank act would have been,
on Oct. 2, 124,878,751, and the amount re
quired to be kept on hand in the Treasury
under the law now in force is 104,528,000.
The amount of legal-tender notes, therefore,
released from the reserves of the banks under
the new act of that date, Nov. 1, M as 20,350,.
000. The amount of cash reserve held in the
vaults of the banks at the date of the last
report, Oct. 2, was $55,000,000, and the total
reserve 94,700,000 in excess of the require
ments of the present act.
A table Is given, showing the kinds and
amounts of reserves held by the banks in New
York city, in the other redemption cities, and
in the remaining banks on Oct. 2, and the
amount these banks would have been required
to hold if the reserve laws had remained un
changed.
The amount of taxes paid into me Liiited
States Treasury by the National Banks for the
year ending July 1, 174, M as 7,(S3,39H, of
which $3,404,000 was derived irom circulation.
The rates of taxation under the State laws
during the last year Merc: In New York ciy,
2 80-100 percent; Boston, 2 34-100; Chicago,
2 &4-100; Cincinnati, 2 57-100; St. Louis, 3
44-100; Charleston, .ij. ine average amount,
of taxation assessed on the capital of National
Banks is estimated at from o to ,y per cent.
Real estate and personal property are gener
ally assessed at not more than one-third of
their actual value, but bank shares are usually
assessed at their full value. There Is no doubt
that the rate of taxation of National Banks is
greater than that of any other species of property.
The amount of fractional revenue tax de
rived from the sale of the two-cent 6tamp af
fixed to checks and sight drafts for the year
ending July 1, 1874, was $1,500,000. The
Comptroller recommenas me repeal oi ine
latter tax, and If it is not repealed that the act
shall be so amended and such penalty pro
vided as shall tend to prevent evasions of the
present law.
A tabic is given snowing me aggregate cap
ital and surplus, total dividends, and total
- . , ., .; . r .11-. t
earnings ol me uaiiKS, wmi ratio oi um
dends to capital and surplus, and capital and
surplus for each half year, beginning March,
lOOW, anil CllUlug oepu 1, lntt. j-hmii who uv
bie it appears that the average dividends on
capital during the past year have been at the
rate or uy-10 per cent., inc aiviucnu un capi
tal aid surplus 7 87-100, and the earnings to
the capital and surplus 9t8-100.
The amount or taxes conecieu oy ine ura
missioncr of Internal Revenue from savings
banks and private banks and bankers during
the last year was $3,387,000.
The Comptroller gives statistics ot the re
sources and liabilities of State banks and
savings banks during the past year. But few
of the States have laws requiring regular re
ports to be made to the Mate authorities,
and a still less number of States compile
i-uch reports when received. The returns
given are chiefly from tbe banks in New
England nnd the Middle States, and the
Comptroller has addressed a circular letter to
the Governors of the States, suggesting that
recommendations be made to the several State
Legislatures, urging the passage or acts
which w ill secure information in reference to
the monev institutions of the States, and asks
the attention of members of Congress to the
subject, and the exertion of their influence to
that end.
The Comptroller gives a table showing the
amount of National Bank notes of each de
nomination outstanding, from Mhich it ap
pears that the amount of notes less than the
denomination of $5 now outstanding is
$9,977,X41; the amount of National Bank
notes less than $10 is $139,980,4'.0. The
amount of legal-tender notes outstanding of
less than $5 is $56,222,322, and the amount of
legal-tender notes less than $10 is 107,403,
905. If the whole issue of legal tender notes
nrl National Rank notes under $5 should be
Mithdrawn, it would require $50,233,000 of
specie to taKC its piace, aim u an wic jjajt
money, including the fractional currency, un
der $io should be M ithdrawn, it would re
quire 295,5;,000 of specie to take its place.
The United States Treasurer holds $35, Kl,-
omi of I'nited States ImiikU as fcccurity lor
eirenbition of notes. These lionds consist OI
$145,981,000 of 6 per cent, bonds and $230,-
4144.000 of . ix;r cent bonds, and there has
been an increase ol o per cent, oonos uunng
the past four years of 143,497.000, and a dc
crease of 6 per cent. lKinds of 100,909,000.
Tl-.. rvimr.trollcr recommends an appropri
ation of $5,000 for the redemption of unsigned
notes of National Banks w nu n were pur
loined from the Treasury in 1807.
The Salem (N. Y.) Pre of a recent
date says: " There seems to be no end
to accidents happening from the prema
turo dUfii'inrp nf firparms. Not a week
n:tsKPs hut we are called upon to record
casualties of this character. The latest
that has come to our knowledge occurreu
liir-hurdson. a VOUng
man residing in this village, undertook
to shoot a cat, DUt ine taoies were r
n,a .it mircppdpd in shooting
him. it happened in this wise: Rich
... . , - ,i
ardson took ine cat in ms arms uu
i ipd it to a point near the railroad wood-
clwl intpndins' tO sllOOt it. The Cat
proving fractious, he held it with one
bond tviiilo bp nut the revolver between
his knees and cocked it with the other
hand. Just as he finished this part of
his task the cat's tail caught in the ham-
mar nn.l in ottomntinlT tf frff. llPT trtll
UK'I uu ..l-."1,w..-.)b " "
pulled the trigger, and the contents of
the revolver cut ner tan in two ana en
tered Richardson's leg."
A Troy man worth $75,000 hung him.
self the other day. If they must do it,
that's the kind of men to go about it, as
it loosens the currency.
ALL SOIITS.
Prof. Tousley discovered them in
Mr. A. 11. Tlarton's cellar. Mr. Tousley
occupies Mr. Jiarton's residence during
the hitter's absence in the Kast, nnd in
searching the cellar for vegetables tlie
other day the learned professor run
across a few remarkably fine looking
onions, which the tenant prepared
(they were real mild and pleasant onions,
und didn't draw a tear) and boiled 'cm
boiled 'em for a day or two, in fact, but
tliey stubbornly refused to yield to hot
water couldn't cook 'cm tender! They
were a very hard and solid onion, nnd,
if ornamented with a turnip top, nt first
sight might easily havp been mistaken
for that vegetable. One of these onions
was about to be mibmitted to the Acad
emy of Natural Sciences when a neigh
bor happened in und remarked that it
looked to bcr like a gladiolus bulb! und
so it was! The professor never was fond
of onions, anyway! Chirayo Poet und
Mail.
The Leavenworth 7VinBay8: "Sin
gular things sometimes happen on the
railroad. A few days ago a calf, which
mhs quietly ruminating upon the truck
of the Kansas Pucific Railway, about
threw miles west of this station, was
struck by the locomotive of a running
train and thrown up on the engine in
front of the smoke-stack. There it Mood
quiet and unharmed until th train
stopped, ahut two miles beyond. As
the train alackcnod up the calf jumped
oil', greatly to the amusement of Hilly
Mitchell the section boss, and his hands,
who were at work near the spot. After
an hour or two the owner came und
drove the calf home, which seemed tw
be none the worse for its little gratuitous
excursion on the Kansas Pacific."
A patent has been recently taken
out in England for a substitute for leath
er, which is produced in perfect imita
tion of diflerent kinds of leather. The
sheets of fibrous pulp from which the
material is made are pressed into real
skins of leather, the grain of the skin to
be imitated being thus accurately repro
duced. The article is called leatherette,
costs one-eighth as much as leather and
is stronger and of more uniform quality.
The British Trade-Journal, which de
scribes it, does not give any description
of the process of manufacture.
The most obstinate mule on record
turned up the other day in Sonoma
County, CaL His owner was hauling a
load ot lime, when a warm rain-shower
set in. The lime, slaked by the rain,
was soon in a high state of combustion,
and the wagon caught fire. IJut the
animal in question, which formed one of
the team, stubbornly resisted all efforts
to detach him from the burning wagon,
and was cremated on tlie spot, while his
unfortunate owner stood by and misap
plied Scripture.
In a recent action for a breach of
promise or marriage the ucicnuanrs
counsel asked the plaintiff: " Did my
client enter into a positive agreement to
marry you?" " Not exactly," she replied;
" but he courted a good deal, and he told
my sistr that he intended to marry iuto
our family."
William E. Holmes, of Strafford,
N. II., in his eighty-first year and nearly
blind, went out into the woods near his
residence, a few days since, and with an
old Queen's arm that he used to use sixty
years ago shot a lox that some iiounus
uippened to be chasing by.
A Nevada Justice, whf'fi appealed to
to issue a warrant for the arrest of sonic
three-card monte men who had swindled
a traveler, refused to do ho, saying that
the offense came under the head of
"dispensation of Providence, and ho
hadn t jurisdiction.
Thirteen millions is what .wc pay an
nually for Postmasters and their cl.'i ks.
With what cngcr pnue ana exultation
must thcEC figures be read by the hun
dreds who preside over the destinies of
village postofliccs at a princely salary of
f loOper annum.
A fortv-dav husband, on whom the
memory of the'honcymoon already seems
to have Become powerless, wants lo
know why his wife is like a small pic.
Do V-ou give it up? Answer r.ecuusc.
says the unfeeling wretch, she is now
a little tart!"
When a Chicago woman answered
the door-bell and was informed that her
husband had been drowned she sunk
down and whispered: "And the bill for
JfoO worth of false hair is lo conns up at
four o'clock ooh-hooouh! J M roil rice
Press.
A singular accident befell Capt.
Drew, agent of the James River line of
steamers, at City Point, Va. While the
Cnptain was sitting in his chair in a state
of profound sleep sonic rascal stole out
of his mouth a line set of artificial teeth.
The Carlists are accused of having
tried to introduce coal oil into Irun by
means of shells. They excuse their in
humanity by declaring that the article
used was the non-explosive kind.
Report of Atty.-Gen. Williams.
Washington, Dec. 3.
Tlip A f f irinvflpnrr!ira iiimiiiil renort show s
that there Merc judgment during the fiscal
ear in civil suits in lavor oi ine uuitcu euars
if 2,021,724; amount actually realized,
ii:7 i'f Mr llio -ritnin.'il ciihi4. 6.01S were
terminated, inclnding 2,623 convictions, of
Mhich 102 out of 906 were under the F.n-
foreement acts. The total suits to which
the United States were not a party is 19,194,
of which 11,490 were terminated, the judg
ments being to the amount of 10,508,621.
The expenses of the Marshals, Commission,
ers, etc., for the year were 2,009,!0, or $:il,-
.33 less than inc previous year, i ue amount
lu-arrfi-d bv the. Court of Claims was $2,418.-
804, against total claims of 4,054 ,3 K J.
I he Attorncy-Ucncrai recommenas mat ine
T'i,;ri Kt'iti-a 'lUxtrift Courts be given au
thority to issue subpo-nas directing the at-
tendance ol w itnesses neiore me tuun
Claims, and that the latter be given power to
r,,r,i-li for f-nnti-mnt. anv failure to oIk'V: that
the heads of departments be given authority
for use ill tlie court oi inc omeueraie rec
ords in possession of the Government; that
he police loree oi tue iisiriei i luiuih
i., I..- infi-n!i'l that all District At
torneys and Marshals be paid by salary only.
fees being abolished; mat a peiiiivuuw j u
erected in the District of Columbia for the con
finement of convicts. Instead of that of Albany;
that a uniform mode be provided for the selec
tion of jurors for United States Courts and the.
lnrinir the fees aim
costs of Clerks, Marshals and attorneys of
nited States courts.
A Ci.kiik'b Joke. One of the clerks in
a Woodward avenue store yesterday
raised a third-story window and balanced
a straw man on the sill in such a position
that people across the way were certain
that some one was hanging to the casing
for dear life. In one hour fifty people
entered the store to say that some one
was about to fall from the window, nd
most of them passed out of the side
door looking down-hearted in takmg
their leave. Detroit Free Press.
It was in a Massachusetts village that
an old scissors-grinder, calling on a min
ister, made the usual query: " ADy scis
sors to grind?" Receiving a negative
answer it was the minister's turn, which
he took, by asking ; " A re you prepared
to die?" The question struck home.
Gathering up his kit and scrambling for
the door he exclaimed, terror-stricken:
"Oh, mercy! You ain't a-going to kill
me, are you?n
Another Atlantic cable has gone to
the 'bottom of the sea. Whales with
rheumatism in their knee-joints can now
try the boasted benefits of electricity.