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About Nebraska herald. (Plattsmouth, N.T. [Neb.]) 1865-1882 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1874)
ilcport of the Secretary of the ireasnrj. . In hm report the Secretary of the Treiurr c;niainie me transactions tu-Duin;r toe re funding of the d! : that urce.xeful bidders have -"en ap til former bids and hold option for the rem now reo. I. i ne sinking luna 1 over S), 0 behind.. . The , Sccreurjr not only takes ftrcing grround in favor of spucte payment, but -t lortu a definite Dlan for rcachinz the same. lie rocommt-nda the repeal of tbe Lentil-Tender act at a nxotl day. A to contracts thereafter made, and except an to official salaries and ordi nary expenditures or trie (iovernment under ex isting appropriations, the Secretary recommends iubi. aumoruy oe trvea ror tne immediate Issue of convertible bonds bearing a low rate of inter eat, lie aks that a day may be fixed for the re sumption or specie payment, not more remote than three years, at the end of that time the Sec retary to be authorized to raise cold by selling u--uui iu iicu aiuuuuis ms may Mcume necessary, from time to time, to keep the Treasury In condi tion to redeem greenbacks as presented. It is recommended that fractional currency be re placed by silver, and to accomplixh this the Sec retary deidres to sot the mints all at work coin ing silver, and that as rapidly as it is produced the fractional currency be recalled and dextroyed, beginning with the smallest de nominations. The Secretary alee auks that the coinage or cold be made free in the United States, as it m in London, In ordT to prevent the ea I'ortaticn "f bullion for coinage. In regard to printing all Varieties of Government botes, bonds atld stamps, the Secretary recommends that the iv hole be done exclusively at the Treasury De partment. Government has all the necessary machinery, obtained at great cost, and all the needed facilities. It can perform tbe work at the same or a less cost than private firms, when the coot of transportation by ex press is considered. Afide from these minor considerations, the Secretary regards tbe ques tion of safety as one which ehould control. At the end of the present contracts, or as soon as they can be legally terminated, he recommends that all the work of this nature be performed in the printing division of the' Treasury. The Secretary recommends free banking as part of the plan' for the resumption cf specie pay ment) and this branch of the subject is not elabo rated. Concerting internal revenue the Secretary recommends that the tax be taken off bank checks, matches, roe mctics and drags, and to meet this loss an additional tax of ten cents per gallon oe imposed on wlilnky. ihls will raise the revenue a little greater than is now received from tnc articles enumerated. The practical workings of putting tea and cotlee ou the free list have been fully examiued bv the Treasury Department. Care fully-prepared tables of prices la f.jrcign markets and prices to consumers for a period subsequent 10 me taking off or the tax snow tbM, wnne the country lort from f,OU0,UUO to $r2,000,UU from the decrease of revenue on this account, the re moval of the tax simply added to tbe price in foreign markets aud bas not benentea consumers here in tbe least. The Secretary recommends the restoration of this tax. The attention of Congress Is called to the great danger to the revenue attending all attempts to modify the penalties which have hcreUifore ex isted, and which the Treasury has sought to en force. The Secretary is no believer in the system of moieties, and does not dosim its restoration in any shape; but he expresses serious doubts whether any benefit has followed certain modifi cations of penalties for the violation of customs regulation. The Secretary dees not regard the Treasury De partment as a proper place lor the adjudication of cotton cases. These are for the most part of a complicated cnaractcr, require the taking or much evidence, and a Judicial investigation, lie therefore recommends that all cotton cases be withdrawn at once from the jurisdiction of the Treasury and turned over to the conns. Upon the question of tariff the Secretary, with out entering upon much discussion, says at pres ent it Is only necessary to treat it purely asm question of revenue, aud not one either of pro tection or free trade, iu the interest of business he does not think any changes should be hastily made, and if Congress desires to revise tbe pres ent rates he recommends that a commission be appointed to take the whole subject into consid eration, with instructions to report to the next Congress. Great economv is recommended in the expendi tures for public buildings. The Secretary recom mends that Congress go over the appropriations and estimates for these works with great care, with a view of reducing come and wholly sus pending others, lie expresses the belief that the needs of the Government do not require such elaborate and costly structures as have of late been erected, but that plainer, and at the same time substantial, buildings will answer every purpose, and save many millions. lie thinks there i needless extravagance in furnishing pub lic buildings, and that much greater economy should be practiced in all direcuons in this mat ter, lie has transmitted the estimates, which have already been carefully revised, but he ear nestly requests Congress to unite with him In scanning them still more closely, with a view to their further reduction. The force of tbe department has been reor ganized and diminished exactly in accordance with tbe laws and appropriations of last session, bat tbe Secretary thinks the lowest limit of economy consistent with prompt and efficient performance of public business has not yet been reached. The Secretary does not believe the present con dition of the Government Jnstiiies the extending of aid in any form to private enterprises of any kind. rostal Statistics. The following interesting statistics are compiled from the annual report of P. M. Gen. Jewell: BEAD I.ETTEnS. liomber of domestic letters received at the Dead-Letter Office during the year. 4.an, 473: num ber of foreign letters received, -J53.3W); total 4, 01,7?3 representing an actual or nominal value of f4.637,i!fc0ts. Number of letters delivered, 1,392,224, representing $909,b68.4 (includ ing foreign letters returned un opened to the Countries whence thev came); number filed for reclamation, 24.Uti3. representing f40.1r3.oi; number at the close of the year either remaining not acted upon or outstanding in the hands of Post masters for delivery, 561,767, representing $4S7, 377; number which, containing circulars, or fail ing in delivery and being worthless, 'were de stroyed. 2.622.619. The number of applications for dead letters was e,4:X). i n 2.140 or these cases the letters were found and properly delivered. The amount received during the vear and de posited in the Treasnry from unclaimed dead let ters and from proceeds of sale of waste paper was $13,548.68. KKetSTERSD X.ITTIRS. The issues of registered packages to Postmas ters upon their requisition duiing the past vear were 20 per cent, greater than during the previous year. The increase is attributable in part to the reduction of the fee for registering domestic let ters from fifteen cents to eight cents, which took effect on the 1st of January last, and in part to the increased care which the department has given to tbe subject. THROUGH MAILS. Tbe throngh-mail tables show that for the vear ending Sept. 80, J874, the average time to San Francisco from New York was 173 hours 32 min utes, against 179 hours 4 minutes the previous vear a gain of 5 hours 32 minutes; and to New York from San Francisco. 171 hours l minute, against 175 honrs 28 minutes the previous year a gain of 4 hours 27 miuntes. The number of mails carried thrwugh wetwardlv between the same points in schedule time this" rear was 597, and be hind time 44, against 457 in time and 105 behind time last year; and eastwardly 337 in time and HS behind time this year, against J5 in time and 130 behind time last year. Between Washington and New Orleans the average tlmegoingsouth this year was seventy-eight hours forty-eight minutes, against eighty-one honrs forty-five minutes last year a gain of two hours fiity-seven minutes; and going north the average was seventy-one hours three micntes this year, against seventy two hours fifty-three minutes last year a gain of tme hour and fifty minutes. And on most of the other throngh-mail routes there is a perceptible improvement both in speed and regularity com pared with the tables for the preceding year. MAIL DEPREDATIONS. The number of recorded complaints for the pest year of missing letters of value was 5,233, of which 2.040 were registered and 3,193 unregis tered. The registered letters contained, as re ported, in bonds, drafts and currencv, $105,778-80, and the unregistered $1851,301.70. Of the regis tered letters, 915 were satisfactorily accounted for, 507 are reported as actually lost, and 61S cases are iu tbe hands of special agents for in vestigation. During the year 2S5 persons were arrested for violations of the postal laws and regulations. Of these ninety-nine have been convicted, fifteen havo been acquitted, five es caped before trial, two forfeited bail; prosecu tion was abandoned in thirty-eight cases, and 126 are awaitiug trial. aii.wat ronTorricTS. The number of peetooce lines in operation on June 80, 1T4, was sixty-three, extending over 1 :.! mue oi raiirouu a uu vimnwtai routes, mu i'irr.je of four lines aud 1.54S miles over tbe preceding year. The number of clerks employed wa8.0. atan annual cost or si.tro.auu, earn crtace of ninety-eight clerks and $U7,4X). rOUEIfcS MALL STATISTICS. Tbe total number of letters exchanged during the ear with foreign countries was 28.579.045. an increase of 1.119.860 over the number reported f.jr a. Of this number 14.SS3.PS9 were sent t.- ni,. and 14.S84.0i6 were received in. the United Mates. The Eusibcr of letters (single rates') ex cLi;ntl is the United States and European n-.i'. wa 13.Po7.042, an lacreasa of Sel-25 over the canjber reported for 1S73. The total post age on the letters exchanged with foreign countries amounted to $3,051,803.81, an Increase or Ji3,4i.9; over the amount reported for 1873. h aggregate amount of postage tsea, inland and foreign) on the letter malls exchanged with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and ireland, Germany. France, Belgium, thsi rietncrlands, Switzerland, Italy. Denmark, pwroen ana Norway was $l,435,!'UQ.6o, an In crease of $3t,2S3.l5 orcr the amount reported for 1873. The postage, on letters sent exceeded the postage on letters recnived from: the same countries in tbe sum of $72,833.1 being 5.06 per cent, oi ine aggregate amount, xae aggregate weight of mails sent to EuroDe waa 916.911 pounds, and of mall received from Europe 89,- o. i ue weignt or letter correspondence sent to Europe was 216.590 nounda. and of letter cor respondence .received from Europe 187.647 pounds. Tbe total cost of the United States ocean mall steamship service for the year 1874 (Including 16ti2.50J oaid from soccial annronrta- uon tor stearanbtp service to Japan and c nina, to Brazil and to the Hawaiian islands) waa WD.- KH.. rOStOmcH AKW AVPOIWTlfUVTB. Nnmber of postofficea established during the vaar flia dumber discontinued I.eiKj Increase l.O.'i) Somber In o Deration on Jane 3i. 197t Number in operation on June 30, 1874 somber filled by appointments of the Presl- dint 1 Af.Q . ;- . is umber filled by appointments of the Post-maste.r-Ocneral. . : . . i . i - 32.R.S4 ,-. Appointments were made during the rear: Ou resignations..:.......; ..; ... B.SVt On removals D07 On change or names and sites 47 On deaths of Postmasters 814 On establishment of new postofflccs. ....... 2,318 in Northern Texas and New Mexico from pilfer ing ana raurucruus aixacKS vj suiau parties or by individuals of these tribes. The remedy suggested is to Procure from the Cherokees, Choctaws and Chlckasaws a sufficient quantity or land. In live different tracts, suited to herding and agriculture, disarm and dismount these wild Indians and remove them to these localities, fur nishing tnem cattle In return for their ponies and .rations, and clothing fu return for their labor in building houses and opening farm for luetuseives. ... . The Commlseloner concludes .by stating Ala conviction of the feasibility of Indian cITUki tlon. and that the difficulty of its nro'blem' t. ndt so inherent in the race, character and disposition of tbe Indian, great as these obstacles are, a6 in his anomalous relations to the Government and In his surroundings affected by the influence auu in teres i oi wniie neooie: mat uie main difficulty, so far as the Government is concerned, lies in the fact that the Indian's deepest nncd is that which the (iovernment. throueh its Dolltiral organizations and operations, cannot well bo- Slow, lhe first heln which a man in barbarism requires if not that which can be afforded through a inimical party, but that which is oUnred by a Irilow-man wiser than himself, coming person ally and extencing a hand of srmpathv and tru:k: that no araount of appropriations and no governmental machinery can du much toward lifting an ignorant and degraded people, except as it work" through the willing lianU of men made strong and constant by their love for their feUoW-tiitin. r m - A NarroTr Escape. The isat. Total appointments 9.374 Tho number of snerial agents, ronte a rents. mall-route inessensrera. raihvav pontoffice clerka and local agents in service during the ve:tr ended Jnne 80, 1874. wa 2,175, at an aggregate corapen eauon oi eop.e:!. THE MONET-OROFR STSTEM. Number of new moncv-or'er otilces established. io; discontinued. 11 nikin; the present num ber 3.401. Number of ilomestiri r.ionev orders issned during tho year. 4 KTUVVI. the negregate of value or Which was S7t.UM851.72i Tho fees re ceived by Foftmasters for the issne of domestic money orders amounted to .4'il.:e. '; A earn of Slft.ft&U'fii.O'.J. or 2.94 ner cr-ut.. in the amount of orders Ifsned and of SfWi.TSO.O.'V. or SMI percent.. n tho amonnt of fees received, is sh;iwn by tbfiwe ngnres over the traus'icuons of t he previous yenr l he revenue account of the domestic moncv- order system as aijiif ted and reported by the Auditor anows tne receipts to have been S -bisin 53; expenditure. $ 'S7.t;'8.11 ; excess of receipts over expenditures, $.05,196.11. x. The amount of revenne U greater by $!6.614.12 than that of the previous year, an increase of 53.4 per cent. ESTIMATES. The total expenditure for the fiscal vear end ing June M, 187. are et!m-Med at C.r6IJ estimated revenue $S.14S.t.-6. These estimate do not include appropriations for stenmbhip ser vice ana stamps, amounting to $2,!-!ttw0.. Indian Statistic?. In Ms report the Commissioner of Indian Af- lairs classifies tho Indians under three heads, as follows: Firtt Those who are wild and scarcelv tracta ble to any extent bovond that of comiRg near enough to the Government Agent to receive ra tions and blankets. This class numbers about P9.P13, and may be catalogued a follows: 4-1.354 out of about 52.000 Sioux; 4J0 Mandan. l.fcM tiros Ventres. 4.2U) Crows, 5,450 Black feet, Bloods, and Picgans; 6,163 Utes in Colo rado, Utah and New Mexico; 9.057 Apaches in New Mexico and Arizona; 4.if75 Kiowas and Comanche? in Indian Territory; 7.:ii4 Cheycunes and Arrapahons in Indian Territory, Wyoming and Dakota : 5Ji6J Chipncivas iu Mlnuewotn. Wis. confin and Michigan: 3u0 Nez Perces ia Idaho; 1.6J0 Mioshoues aud Bannocks in W yoming; 1,0 0 Bboehones, Bannocks and Piutcs in Oregon. Second Those who are thoroimhlv convinced of the necessity of labor and are actually un dertaking it, and will more or less accept the direction and ax-istance of Government Agents to thiB end. Thee n umber about 51.4z. and are summed Jjp as foliows: 5,709 Cliipprwa aud Araenomouce in Miituueota and WL-conxiu, 3J8 Sacs and Foxes in Iowa, 4.622 Sioux. 7:' I'oncas and 97.J Rces iu Dakota: Pawnees, Omahan, Ottoos, Sacs and Foxes in Nebraska; 1.H20 Flathcad.- in Montana, and 2,5") mixed Shoshone and Ban nocks and Sheep-eaters and 1,9V Nez Perc-s in Idaho; 295 Klckspoo. 3 A Uaws and 2,372 Omiges in the Indian Territory; 10j Pali Utes on reserva tion in Nevada, 575 Ules in Utah, 1,450 Mohave snd Il'ulapuos in Arizona. 9.(HiS Navajocs in New Mexico, aud 15,0.Vi among tho different tribes in Washington Territory, Oregon and alirornla. Third Thope who huve come i'lto poso!ion of allotted lands and o'her stork property in stock and implements belonging to a landed es tate. This class comprises 5, 40 Ser.-ras and other Indians in New Yo 11.774 Chippcwas and other Indians in Michigan, Wisconsin aud Minnesota: 2.YW Sioux at &it.setn. Santec and Handreuu agonoios; 'Mj Iowaa and 1.7:i5 Wiunc bagoc in Nebraska; 750 Pottawattamies and Kickapoos in Kansas; 50 osages. la.oju tuos- taws, 1.30J Crwks, EOO Chukasaws, 2.43H hemino'es, 17,217 Cherokeo and 4,141 belonging to smaller baurts in the In dian Territory; liX) Fastern Cherokees in North Carolina; l.7 Nez Perces in Idaho; 5.112 Yako- mas and others In u a&htngton lemtorr. ana lti.9115 Pueblos iu New Mexico. Within the abovu cluj-slilcatton, modified somewhat, might bu in cluded 4.:iO liitas snd Marlcopas and v,0I0 Pnpagues in Arizona, aud a majority of the 5,0.0 Mission Indians in California, who have al ways been self-supporting nnd only wilulu a short time have lecu furnUhed by the Govern ment w 1th an agent and a few employes. A fourth class of roamers inj vagi ants is enumerated, consisting of CO Wii.mlingot In Wisconsin. 250 Klcknp.H in Kansas, known as Mokohoko's Baud. 5.1.0O Dic-'ers and -tlers in California, 3.000 Indians on the Columbia Kivcr. Utes in Nevada. Utah. Colorado and A rizona ; 2.taW Yumss nnd othera in Arizona, and 1 ,2 JO seatierod Indians in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Texas. The Commit.sioner savs a decide 1 advonc has been made danng ihe year in the direction of se curing control and influence over the lnl:ans embraced in Class 1; and the way has opeued quite perceptibly for a much lnrgT and more uopelul wort among them u ing tnc coming year. The first r-qtuslte in the treatment or an Indians of this chss is firmness. Any outrages or depredations should be followed up promptly and punished at all hazards and any cost. Any leniency which comes In to prevent thiais an ex pensive and mistaken kindness. rue &1.4X9 people embraced in Class z. ine com- misMoncr savs, mnv be pioperly ciassmed as Indian novitiates in civilization. 1 hey have largely broken away from heathenish practices. are generally abandoning the medicine dance, and have come directly under the influence and control of religious teaching. For this class of Indians, the beginnings of civil government, a large increase of school facilities, lands in sev eralty, and generous assistance in furnishing teachers of trades and agriculture, together with farming implements, seeds aud stock, are needed. The third clas. composed of Indians who; without violence to the term, may be called civil ized, is most numerous. All of them h.ve be?.n greatly assisted iu Attaining to this condition by me uirrci uo long-cominuea reiipio'i. imttuui(:n aud influences of missionaries. They need some form of civil covernmcm and the inauguration of a process through which they may erase to be Indians by Decorum g American citizens. Of the roamers, numbering abont 14.003. little con be said, except that they are generally as harmless as vagrants and vagabonds csn be tn a civilized country.. They are lonnd in all stages of degradation.prodoecd by "licentiousness. intrmper ance. Idleness and poverty, without a land, un willing to leave their haunts for a homestead upon a reservation, and, scarcely in any way related to or recognized by the Government, they dra3 out a miserable life. The report sta'cs that the Sioux unmoor so.noo. tbe greater portion of them "yet unreached by civilization." Four thousand four hundred and fortv-four of tbe more tractable received rations from the Government at eleven different agen cies, and from 5,Ot) to 10.000 of the wilder clas consented to visit the agencies ' when on "an occasional raid for ratious." . The wildness of the Sioux and the non-adoptability of the coun try they Inhabit to their support in a civilized nioo.ee: me maitc ine miuru oi ni inue a seri ous problem. In reference to the Black Hills tbe commis sioner savs that all legislation looking to settle ment of this region by Iho whites should no frowned down, as it would create demoralization tbM Sioux. The re.linmlshment of the right given In 188 to the Bed Cloud and Spotted Tail Agencies to bunt in Nebraska. It is believed. run be obtained by paving the lnniaus s -,'. Their right to roam In Wyoming still exists, al though their repeated violations of the treaty made with -them would Justify the Government, the report states, in abrogating it. Without calling for vigorous operations by tbe military, it would be impossible. Commissioner Smith asserts, to put a stop to the constant and mnrderons raiding bv Indians belonging In the southwestern portion of the Indian Ten Itonr. But the necessity of fighting these Indian would have been obviated by flrmuefs nnd promptness in proenrinz the punishmeut of the crimes of in dividual Indians and of white marauders in their territory. .... The qnestlon of the future of the wild Indians in the Indian Territory, he says, is very seri ous one. as their deep and avowed aversion to any settled life cannot be overcome so long aa thev are on the border of vast, unoccupied plains and" aisiost within sight of herds of buffalo, and makes it welj-plgh impossible to secure settler The annual renort of the Pecretsrv of th Navt snows the navy tti be in a remarkably efficient condition, both as regards the number of vctsscls aud their awmament aud bi?a-wing qualities. The navy at present consists of 163 ve.tseU, with 1,314 guns. Orjrou-cl.id or armored vessels, sixteen are of a class and in condition for actual and eUicient service. Four others, of tho class of powerful dotible-tnrretcd monitors, arc acluiill on h.uid :iudcr2oiUi reDairs. and n fifth l we worm ine same attention, bnt tho ro- mindor may be counted as really useless for any active ard efficient nurwose. O:io-ha!f ot the et-'am navy adapted to cruising la In com mission and in actual Service. This number of vcsFels Cannot be nrndentl v diminished : hut. if it is to bo iuaintaiaed. lh'.'t must be a "radii HI nnd coustaut addition to the tiairr to rply iho psnces oi tijoee wruci are earn vear round to oe worn ont and auiil for fun her s rvicei and for mis parpose a nxeu amount ror tonnage should ho buiil every year. .Thli tuir.ic -e mav be small. bit it should bj constant and unfailing. To this end the dnnartment haa accumnlated a largo ninotiLit of liv-uak tinibor ia various navy v a. l.-!, whefe it will yearly improve iu condition aud bo available as the very best material for the I'raiae.t of anv shins it mav at anv li.rlu be neces- sary or deslrablo to baild. '1 he rapid and almost couipieto disappearance of this moat valuable ship-lumber from our shores, larire Quantities being seat abroad, ahoitlu arrest tbe attention of vongrefcs, and iuc-uure; should be taken to se cure what roLiuiiejt. 1 U'l .Secretary ruciies the facts in tho VlrInins aa'air, and rxi.eis to tho yellow-fever epidemic at Penaacula and the "nsat naval trial oil' thu coast of Florida, lie rccouiineiila that if tho Icelandic cwmraitico soul out Iu a Government vossel to examluo t-overal points ou tho AlasJa coait with a view to teftleuiuut by their cotiutijmen sluill Cud at auv Poiu! on the I'aciuc coast a satisfac tory ktcauoa, whatever ass-ietuueu the Govern ment is couiDetuut to exlund towntd t.-i- taWlixhing an Icelandic colony there be promptly offered, as tho Icelanders would be a valuable and fruitful source of supply to the navul scrvico of trained American seamen in ,t line of noed. The Secretary calls attioil n to the importance of tbe Ilydro-raphic ofiice. lis thinks special attention should bo gtveu to sur veys of the North Pacific Ocean, and nrgi-s the propriety of increasing and developing the re sources of tho nay yards. The approba tions applicable to the fiscal vear ondiu June SO, 1971, including the unctpended balance of appropriations for tho building of now sloops, and epocktl appropriations to reimburse the bureaus for their great expenditures, during the threatened comolicutiou with Spain. amoyutcd in the aggregate o Si7.147,ST7, aud the actual expenditures lor the same period from Uteso apprci'iiatious anumnted to .2V4.i5.,. or about VAy-Oo less than the whole amount. The appropriation made available for the current year, commencing July 1, 1.S74. amount in thu aggregate to Sl'J.29.74I. 1 ho amount f these appropriation. for the cur rent year, drawn for the five moutl'.s jiice July 1 up to Iec. 1, 1174, is S'l. !.. wiTich i.t re ducd by amount refunded durinir the period aud that remaining In. hands of psTiiia.-te.rs and agents of the (ovTiincnf, wh'ch will laveallu)e les than ATi.O 0.i4 as the sum actually expended from the cnrn;nt appropriation duiini: the live working summer months of this year. Public Lauds nod Patent Statiftlcs. The follbviing statement and statistics arc taken from tlie lute report of tlie Secretary of the Interior: PUBLIC During the fiscal vear cndlnff Jnne 3 1S74. public lands were uUposed of as follows: Cash sales, 1. 41.:i45.4d -ncres; miiitary-warrnat loca tions, l&CHA); hmeMtadeutiie.3.M3,til."; tim-bor--ulnire onfriert, tSi,91.Y-7; Agricaltural Col lege scrip location. ltiUL.2Tftj; approved to Stales na swamp, "ir, lS.Ul; cortiSed to railroads, 3.2-sl.- 8L4.42; certlllxtd for wagon-roads. 57.9-21.il: certi- t.ol for .Vgricultnr:U Colleges. It4.xtl3.lfl; ceriitlod tor ooiuQiou achowis, 6U,tb i; certiiied for uni versities, t4.tiJo.5J; approved to States for inter- n ul improvements, l.i4,c).7; Sioux lutlf-breud scrip locations. 7JU; Chivpewa, do., 11,671.71. Total. 9, :X).H."Xio acres a quantity less by 3.4W, 73i.b4 ceres than tUoX diaposed of the preceding year. Cash receipts J.J'jPSS , being $933,577 less than those of the prefiedlug year. v lurlugtae vi:a iy, ji2,;iu.4'; acres were snrveyed. maklug 6tu,oW -,U5J acres already surveyed, and le:ing ua.-urvej ed .,j85.60 -,aw acres. The (liuiiuutioii in the aggregate qu.intlty .of landk dls,o?ed of during the vear is chiefly owing to the amount certUlcd to railroads 3.-61.H14.-i acres in lite year ending Jnne 3u, 1KM, aguiust 6.0-3,"16.57 cci-ee in that ending June i. l-i3. Nearly a million acres were inteied under the Timber act, which augurs will lor the now treelcsn prati see of the West. The entries under this and the liomsrrad act exceed by over half a million acre-i like cntrioa during the preceding year. The ia;;i-.i deatmction of timber in this coun try, aud especially that which is lonud on tbe public lauds, is a aourcc of great solicitude to all persons who have given the subject any consid eration. If this oetructlou progresses in the fu ture as rapidly as in the past the timbered lands of the Government wl.l soon be denuded of ev erything that is valuable, iiffective legislation ftrotc-cting these lauds from such u ustc is abso utely necesaary, aud cannot longer be neglected without serious injury to the public intcre.-is. I'nder the laws uo.v iu force for the disposition of public lands it is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain more, than the minimum price $1.2 per acre) for land, however valuable. When tim bered lands are advertised for sale private par ties, desiring to purchase, mako such arrange ments and combinations as to prevent con peil tiou; hence the lands. If disposed of at all, are sold at the ' minimum when offered at public sale, acri. If not then sold, are im mediately entered at tue minimum Govern ment price by snch parties. The most effectual means of preventing these practices is, in the judgment of the Sccictary, to adopt the sugges tions of the Commissioner of the General Land Oflice, that pine and fir lands shall Ujt be subject to entry under the l're-emption and Homestead laws: hat a system of surveys be devised by which the quantity of pine and tir timber on each smallest subdivision of a section may bo at least closely approximated; that uu immediate ex ploration by experts of the ensnrveyed portion of those States and Territories known to contain pine and fir timber be made, with a view of as certaining tho geographical situation of such districts; tbat the reports of such explorations be followed by immediate surveys, appraisements, proclamations and sales, at not less than lhe ap praised valne, and for cash only. TATBSl-S. Tbe operations of the 1'atent Office during the year show a large tncrcase over thosu of lhe pre ceding jear. '1 ho number of applications, in clusive of re-Issues and desigus was 21,077, of which 13,545 were allowed; 22a applications for extensions .were filed, of which axi were granted, and J.6SD patents were allowed, but not Issued, on account of failure to pay the final lees. Six hundred and ninety-six applications for trade-marks aud labels have also been filed, of which 583 were granted registration. The toial amonnt of fees received waa $!21. 111.33, and the total expenditures wire 5VJl,u7..i2, leaving a oal auce of Si M -.US. a sum greater by $24,85a-bo than that of the prccedingyear. The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio has been divided by a line along the south ern boundaries of the counties of Mer cer. Shelbv. Loean. Union. Marion. Mor row, Knox, Coshocton, Tuscarawas, Har rison and Jefferson; tbe General Conven tion has assented to and ratified tbe di vision, and. the Bishop bavin also as sented, the division is now perfected. According to a recent publication, the Methodist Episcopal Church, during tbe fourteen years prior to 1372, re ceived 2,072,688 probationers, of "whom only 509,31b became members. A ftiTEH In Lium'iteott relates the fol lowing dangerous adventure which befell him on a trlrwto England. He we walk ing along the Strand, in London, wHen a low, pleasant voice said in his ear: " Don't look behind, sir!" Presently again: "If you want some Vey fine cigws, very cheap, follow me." . Id a feWril0merH3 a square-shouldered, decently-qre.ssedi'irian passed before me arid, crossed the' street; eo did I. He walked on 8 Considerable instance so did L He entered u narrow, dark alley; so did I. After a variety of turriings find windings toward the very wor6t part of tne town, tbroueu a rcgioa of squalid misery and pestilential air, he turned into a gin-palace; so did I. My silent pilot, without turntn? ms Head, crossed tne gln-piiliicc, passed out in the rear, made his way rapidly alonz a irloomy. solitary court, entered a dirty, dismal looking, unfurnished room, and out of that into another; so did I. We were now in a small, dark chamber, with only one window two feet square and ten or twelve from the lloor. so that nobodv could look In or out. Strange as it may seciri, not till this moment did I think what a foolish thing 1 was doing. " Now. sir!" said mv new friend, as he unlocked a largo closet crammed witii aninle Dro'visidn ?f ciaar-boxes. Just look at thcta cljiir:' 1 hey re the best in the whole world, and dt ibe lowest prices. Seven and a half pounds. Seven pounds, biz pound?, l c can t get them cigars anywhere in the whole Lmted Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland without Bavins twice a9 much Mr. So-aud-so" (uaiala a son of one of the leading rucmbem of the Ilntish House of Commons) "has Just bought for lifty pounds. ' Fifty pounds!" exclaimed 1. "My good fellow, I dnt want fifty pounds' worth of cigars. I ll take a hundred, or. it you like, two hundred, but I shan't take any more." iue man looked at me with a very cu rious expression In his bad, ugly fiu:c, aud pressed, his lips hard together like one who has difficulty to control a fierce gust of passion. Then he answered: " i e don t think I brought ye here, and exposed myself and my den to ye (for ye must know we're smugglers), only to sell ye a shillin's worth of "cigars, do ye? If ye're a gentleman, as I supposed ve was, ye'll take enough to pay for trouble and risk. If ve don't like cigars " said he, "perhaps ye'll take some other goods." With a sudden energetic movement he threw up a trap-door at my feet. I looked into it. Black as midnight. A most cheerful object under the circum stances. He stepped down and instantly rose again with an armful of article. "Camel-hair shawls," said he "real cashmere India shawls, both sides alike. Brussels lace, velvets, jewelry. Ye can sellany o' them articles for three times what 1 charge." "Magnificent!" exclaimed I, with affected admiration, for 1 was not con templating the elegant articles, but my own elegant position. 1 perceived I wn not only In a smugglers' den, but in a robbers' cave. What was I to do? What ever I did I must do quickly. While he arranged the wares for my inspection 1 measured his proportions. He was far more than a match for me. Besides, had I been strong enough and bold enough to spring upon him or to attempt to knock him down that trap-door with any chance of success, a cry or'a whistle would no doubt bring to his assistance accom plices as irresistible if not as numerous as the arm j- of ltodeiick Dim; and even a bearer of dispatches in that case would be handled rather roughly. I saw but ono course, and that doubtful and danger ous, but the tnly one my imprudence had left rac. " Well, old fellow," said r.with a famil iar air, " I tell you what, such a chance does not come every day. If you'll give me one of those articles cheap enough to enable me to make a real profit, I'll take somcthiug." " Oh," said he, " ye shall have 'em just as cheap as dirt; only ye must pay before ye leave the room." " Well," saidTl, " let us see if we can strike a bargain. Unfold that shawl; holdit up so that I can see it." Heboid the shawl broadly up with both bunds, l is face and half his body bidden behind it. " feplendid !" said I. " Hold it higher. Faryier back, so that the liht can fall on it. .Now, what's the damage?" ': It's worth three hundred pounds. I give y. the honor of a gentleman. Ye shall have it for fifty pounds " " Hold it a little farther back," said 1. "It's worth the money, and I'll tell you what I'll take; 111 take my leave! ' I dashed to the door. It was not locked. I slammed it to after me'and flew on my way. Not Byron's steed, the "Tartar of the Ukraine breed," with Mazeppa on his back, not Camilla skim ming o'er the unbending corn, got over the ground much faster than I as I leaped across that gloomy court, burst into the gin palace and out of it agiiu and winged my breathless and inglorious flight away from my pursuer, whofe tread I could hear approaching nearer and nearer bthind me. By what heaven ly lftslinct, by what unseen guidance, I threaded that dark, filthy and not very nice-smelling labyrinth of turnings and windings I know. not, but I did thread it, and suddenly found myself in one ot the open, respectable streets. The tread of my pursuer ceased; I was safe! stripes of two shades of brown, or else alternately brown and ecru, ecarlet, or oiue. mae stripes around the limb are preferred for such 6tockinga. At first this dark hosiery was tho ight very inap propriate with white dresses, but now ihe demand for these warm, comforta ble looking stockings exceeds the supply, as they cannot be found at the best stores. The wrap with this white and brown toilet is a brown cloth Polish coat, or a plain, deep, long sacque, with or with out a cape and sash, or else a black or orown velvet walking-coat bordered with Chinehilia. The cottage bonnet is of black or bTrtWfir velvet to match the wrap. and Is bordered with a ruche of gray os trich feathers. If a hat Is preferred, it I is brown or gray felt in the jaunty shapes I worn bv ladies trimmed with velvet of tlie same shade, aud ostrich tips, with family, these twenty years pas; not in deed until this last summer, when tho King's staff" used it as Leadquarters. Iteykjavik contains about 17,000 inhab itants, and is mainly composed of com fortable frame houses, roofed with slate, and surrounded by little gardens, in which are cultivated potatoes, cabbage and other common garden vegetables. None of the cereals, not even barley and oats, will ripen, though it is said they were grown there in former times. The fruits men tioned in the ancient sagas have wholly disappeared, if we except the low stunted uircli and willow bushes, which, how ever, are not found near the coast, ine timber needed, even for the small farm bouses of the interior, is brought from Norway. Yet the bu6h supplies a suf ficiency of fuel in those places, while near the coast, as at Reykjavik, peat and ostrich tips. perhaps a gay-carnatioa or cluster of alme, of which there are inexhaustless violets holding up the brim. Navy blue, beds, is the only fuel, except occasional violet or bottle green is Used with white snnnlia nf Kn-li;h ennl. The nresent dreea for variety's sake in the way just j aspect of the island is that of a forest descrilsed for brown. less girdle ot green, inclosing a volcanic lhe prettiest colored dresses are made i rirprr. and inhabited bv about 70.000 of two shades of cashmere or else of people. This girdle is in places but a camel's hair or cashmere with silk. There few miles wide but in others it extends arc no more polonaises for the little folk.", i for a considerable distance up the vallevs, - 1 such as those, for lustance, through whica but waist jackets, basques cut square in stead of postilion astiion, side-pleated uasques and sailor blous?s. 1 wo pretty suits, one of iiut-brown camel's hair over silk of the same shade and the other of dark cardinal-red cashmere over silk. were made as follows: The silk skirt had a single side pleating with a 6hirrcd puffed beading. Tbe triple apron of the wool goods !:m! n nilk pleating edging fljw the Ilcita (white) andThorso Bivers. In the valley of the former are found the geysers longtfamcd as the most remark able spouting springs known in the world until Prof, llavden'a recent discoveries in tho Yellowstone region. These I had i tlie good fortune to work and examine with minute care. The full details of mv measurements ana investigations Children's Fashions. Brown is the fashionable color for children this winter. Dark seal and nut brown shades are chosen, and appear in the bonnet, wrap, sash and stocking. These are the stylish accessories with white dresses; when dark dreses are worn the entire costume is brown. White pique and muslin continue in favor for winter dresses of small girls. Of course very warm under-clothing is necessary to make these comfortable, and there is less exposing of bare limbs and arms than formerly. There is nothing new in the style of such dresses. Basques with aprons, reg ular over-skirts on Gabrielle dresses, and tbe yoke slips prevail. Em broidery on the dress or else on the ruffles is thefnvorite trimming. Usually one or two flounces arc seen below the child's wrap; this gives a rather long skirt, and with the long, dark stocking gartered above the knee affords sufn cient warmth. It is considered stylish to put a g..id deal of gros grain riilon about such dresses a sash of it is laid widely and very loosely around the waist and tied in long, drooping loops behind, a narrower bow is at tbe back of the neck, and one on each wrist; th3 waved or braided hair is tied back with the same ribbon. . The dress-skirt readies just below tbe kcee, and shows th.a long stockings of plaia dark brown, or of each apron and &.isbbredths behind of J there I feel could not be crowded into DOtn materials, riquare uasquc of wool with lengthwise folds of siiK and iik sleeves. A silk bow was on each shoul der and on the end of the basque. A very rich dress for a girl of ten years hasdark blue velvet skirt without trimming, blue velvet sleeves and an over-dress of French gray cashmere with velvet sash; price $45. A black velvet skirt with a French sacque of velvet simply corded istobave a basque made to lit the purchaser; price -Irish poplin of dark rose-color is irhmned with shirred ruifics and worn with a black velvet sleeveless cuirass; price s;o0. Plainer dresses for school and general wear are of dark invisible plaids, or else of brown, grav or blue, plain-colored wool goods. Ihe fabrics are usually twilled and very heavy, aid they are made with kilt skirts and pleated waists, or else thev are the regular sailor-suits with blouses drooping below the belt. Very dark blue twilled all-wool goods are made up in sailor-suits and trimmed with black braid. For girls from eight to twelve years old an over-skirt is added and the price la $12 or $13. Small er girls, from two years upward, wear sailor dresses without over-skirts. 1 nese are ijow often made of serviceable gray woolen goods that are said to wash well. They cost from $G to $10.50 and are newer than those of blue or black; tne latter, however, are still very popular. Some beautiful sailor dresses are made of a light gray stulf, thick and warm, yet sold for thirty-five cents a yard. The iront oi tlie skirt Is broad and nat like that of boys' kilts and has bows down it; the back is gathered to a belt and the blouae is also sewed to the belt to pre vent tlie parting of waist and skirt so often seen on active children. This light gray skirt has three bands of blue cashmere stitched around the skirt and the blouse has a sailor collar and a sash of blue cashmere, knotted far back on the left. For girls of five years these cost $!. Others of Marie Louise blue camel's hair serge have black cashmere bindings, buttons and sash, and cost $13. Kilt skirts with, pleated basque or with sailor blouses cost from $10 to $20 for stzes fr girls from two to eight years old. Made of brown cashmere, with bows up the front of the kilt skirt and sailor blouse, nnd a sash of mixed silk and cashmere, this is a very stylish dre68. Mothers who make such dresses at home will be glad to know that it is most styl ish to put Titan wool braid straight around the skirt instead of in intricate patterns; thus there are three clusters of braid, consisting each of two parallel rows of half-inch width ; or two bunches, of which the bottom row is an inch wide, with a narrow tabular braid above it; or else a Single group of five rows of nar row braid i f just above the hem. Blue or black cashmere bunds are nearly two inches wide, bias, oite far opart, and are stitched on each edge by machine. The sailor collar and cuffs are of the dress material with a 6ingle band of cashmere, or else a group of the braid ing matching that on the skirt. Still plainer dresses at the furnishing houses arc marJe of brown, blue or gray Melton cloth, braided by machinery, and, indeed, the whole garment is made at a factAry. They are school dresses for girls of various ages from fourteen down, aud cost from ? 14.00 down to quite a siunii sum. Evening dresses for little girls are light, lluiiily trimmed silks, or else al most all lace, with the waist and skirt in one, and pretty tappers or lace caugtitup by sashes and flowers. Many showy lit tle (Jre6ses of white muslin are sold for $10 lr $12; but these are not well made, cannot be "dono up, and are merely intended to be worn a few times. valking coats for street wraps for children just in short clothes are gored tu fit almost smoothly cinder the large cape, which is not as deep as formerly. The most stylish ones arc of brow'n cash mere embroidered and edged with fringe. Those of white cashmere or pearl-colored poplin are also admired. They are trimmed with satin bands or embroidery, always of self -color. Harper' Bazar. Iceland and Lapland. At a recent meeting of the American Geographical Socictv in New York re ports were rendered by Dr. I. I. Hayes and M. I)u Chaillu of their recent trav els. Concerning Iceland, after giving a description of the recent festivities in that country, Dr. Hayes said: The new constitution gives Iceland practical freedom from Denmark and no doubt it will tend to develop the country, which possesses many resources needing cultivation to make them profit able. At present the chief exports are codfish, salmon and wool. While the cultivation of these industries docs not create any large degree of individual wealth they are productive of general competency. I found the necessaries of life possessed everywhere in abundance; luxuries were not uncommon, and the people were happy and content. The school system Is most admirable and the Icelanders show a remarkable greed for learning. In the humblest peasant hut vou always find books. Some rf our "English classics are translated aud pub lished in Beykjavik' and are greatly in demand. The bookstore was crowded when. I visited it. Crime is almost un known, the common jail not having bad aa occupant, exrept. the Jailer and tis the short space of time allotted to me this evening, and I reserve them, there fore, for another occasion. The Stroker geyser spouted quite 200 feet for our benefit. The famous Lagborg, where Althinga met, presents ev;n a more grand and fearful appearance than the old sagas describe it. Our reception here will long be remembered, taking place as it did by the 6ide of the rising waterfall of the famed Oxara Biver, md beneath the giant-frowning lava cliffs of the Almana gia. M. I)u Chaillu was next introduced, and said : In the north of Europe there is a large tract of country very thinly inhabited by Swedes, Norwegians, Finlandera and L-ips. Its coast is indented by fiords of great beauty, the sea being of great depth, and winding its way inland, often in the midst of stupendous scenery. These fiords were dug out of the solid rock by glaciers on their way toward the sea. The geological features of that ' country impress the mind with the great and constant changes that have taken place or are taking place. The rocks are granite, gneiss and mica schist. As one studies the coast line the eyes rest con tinually on series of terraces one over the other, perfect in shape, almost all situ ated at the entrance of valleys. These terraces 6how distinctly by their rounded pebbles the rising of tho land above tbe water, this 6low and almost impercepti ble rising still taking place in our time. This country was once under the influ ence of a much milder climate, as genial as that of England now. We must con clude from inferences that the icy period is making again its appearance, and that the iinpouetrable belt of ice which seems to bar the way to the north pole, and which our distinguished member, Dr. Hayes, has partly explored, was once an open sea. In the interior of the country inhabited by Laps one meets everywhere positive proofs of the rising of the land. Shells afc found several hundred feet above the present level of the lakes; mountains have been polished as smooth as glass by the action of the ice ; bowlders of ail sizes have been scattered over the iand by the glaciers. Advancing glaciers are demolishing to this day, and break ing the granite hills which oppose their march, while the retiring ones leave be hind them bowlders, sand, gravel, etc., etc. There are sea Laps, forest and river Laps and nomadic Laps. To-night I am only to speak of the nomadic Laps. The whole population of Lapland amounts to about aO.OOO, the nomadic Laplanders numbering about 25,000, and possessing about 500,000 reindeer. Their herds vary from 50 to 5,000. There have beenLap landers possessing even 10,000 reindeer. A man possessing from 500 to 1,000 rein deer is considered rich. Those who pos sess only 50 to 100 are poor. The rein deer is everything to the Laplander. With its skin he makes his clothing, shoes, gloves, with its sinews his thread. He feeds on its flesh, and the animal is his beast of burden. The value of a rein deer varies according to the country. Driving reindeer broken to the harness are not very plentiful, and cost from $10 to $15 each, a common one from $4 to $. The most intelligent Laps are the Swedish and Norwegians, compulsory education having reached that dis tant region. They all know how to read. Every one is or must be confirmed, this ceremoxly being part of the Lutheran creed; hence all must be abbs to read the Bible and know their catechism. Churches are scattered here and there in the desolate regions, and the church-going Laps come into them on Sundays from every side. M. Du Chaillu described a genuine old arctic sleigh-ride, and his amusing trials and mishaps in learning how to manage the ticklish, coffin-like conveyance. His first lesson took six hours, and during that period he managed to overturn the machine a hundred times, more or less, but without stopping his steed or at tempting so futile a task he held grimly on to the single rein, and thumped and bumped along over the snow until a lucky kick sent him back into the box. There was a rule of driving, he said, that the throwing of the rein to rest on the left flank was a signal for a slow gait, while touching the right flank meant full speed. For himself he had never been able to discover the difference, the swift, footed messenger going at his best rato from the moment of harnessing. A rural genius kept his hens from scratching in the garden by strapping a sharp spur two inches long and inclining downward and backward to the legs of the hens. The operation is obvious. Tbe hen attempts to scratch ; the spur digs into the soil and the hen is thrown for ward. Thus she is kept stepping and is promptly walked out of the garden. 14 May heaven's angels whisper gold en words as they kiss your darling cheeks," wrote an Omaha man to his Betsey only last spring; and now he wishes heaven's angels would whimper to him how bis breach-of-promise 6uit coming out, as his lawyer is doubtful. The Christian Intelligencer is anxious to discover how to abate " over drees' In girls' Bchools.. We should suggest giv ing tbe little dears more under-clotiliig. y. T. World. ...
