Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 25, Number 16, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 December 1875 — Page 10

ein bin. Hence it Is advisable to leara by experiment their bt construction od applies Uon .as well as effect; 5. A permanent organization for the signal service corpg. Tbl servlee has nor become - necessity of peace as we'l as war under me advancement made by the present able management; e. A renewal of the appropriation for compiling the official records of the war etc. The onuM-m ofour navy at this time is a

subject of sat tf .ctlou. It does not contain, it is true, anv or tne powerra cruisinr ironciaas which make so mach of the maritime siren gl h of some other nations, bat neither our conti nental situation nor our foreign po.iry requ reit that we should hare a large no saber of ships of this character, while tu is situation and Xbe na'ure of our port con tin u to make tboe of ot'uer nations little dangeroas to as ander any elrcirastancei. OUR If ATT doe contain. bewever, a eonslderaironclads of tbV monitor though not properly ble number of clan, which. cruisers, a 'e poverful aul effective for harbor Venae and for operation near oar own snores. Of these all the single turret ed ones, 15 in nam r. have bem subtatlallv rebuilt, their r- tten wood beea replaced with iron, their halls strengthened and metr engine and machinery tho oahly repaired, ho that tbey are now la so efficient condition and ready for sea as soon as they no be manned and put In em mission. The Are double turreted ironclads belonging to ur nsrr, by far the ia mt powerful efour snips for Hunting purp-. are als la baad and an deroinsr complete repairs, and con d be ready for sea In periods varying from f Mir to six month. With these completed ceorütng to to present dUn and a - two Iron torpedo boats now ready, onr Ironclad fleet will be for the purposes of defense at home equal to any force that can be readily brought against 1. Of onr wooden nT aino, crusers of various sizes to the nnm-er of aoout forty, Including theme now In commission, are in the Atlantic, and could be readv for daty as fastas men could be enlisted for tho-- not aredy in commix loo. Ot those, one third are la effect new ships, and though some of the remainder need considerable repairs on their boilers and machinery, they all are or on b readily made effectives. This on stl lutes fleet of MORE THAN FIFTY WAR SHIPS, of which fifteen are ironclad now In hand on the Atlantic coast. The navy has been brought to this condition by a judicious and practical application of what could be spared from the current appropriations of the last few year and from thatmtde to met the possible emergency of t wo vears aeo. it has been doue quietly, withVont pr oclamation or dmpiay, ard though it hai ineoesHartly straightened the depattment In its ordinary expenditures and, as far as the iron(clad r concerned, has added . not h ins; to the rnlslnz force of the navy, yet the result Is not the lena satisfactory, because it is to be found on the great Increase of res 1. rather than epparen' lorce, the expenw Incurred in taa main tenance ot an err cuve navi xorce in an its branches are neees-aiily 1 ree. Hut ruch a force (s essential to our positions, relations and char icier, and affect seriously the weleht o' onr principle and policy i nrousjnoi' ine wnoie pnere or naval respot sioiimes. ine estimates or the regular snppporl of this banch of toe service for the next year amount to k Utile Je, In the aggregate, tnan ho s made for the current year, but someadlittonal appropriation are asked for objects pot nclnded in the ordinary maintenance or tne nrr, bat believed to le of presslf g Importance lit thU time. It would, In ray opinion, be wise hi once . to afford sufficient means or the immediate completion of he five donble tnrrted monitors now ander colng repairs, which must otherwise advance owl j and only as the money can be spared rom the carrent expenses. Hnpplemented by beee, onr navy, armed with the destructive weapons of modern warfare, manned by our eamen and in charge oi our insiruc cm omcers. will preaeat a force powei fnl for the home purposes nt a reeponolble, though peaceful, nation f he report or the postmaster general, nerewitn ransmitted.zivesa mil history or the workngs or the department f r the year Just past, t will be observed that the deficiency to be applied from the genera1 treasury is Increased ver the amount required for tne precedinr rear. In a country so vast in area as the United Ptatea. with larte portions sparsely nettled. It hi uat be expected that this important service jvlil be more or less a burden upon the treasury ur many years to come, rut there la ne branch of the public service which ia areata the whole peop'e more than that f the ehenp and rapid transmission f the mails. The commercial advantages tobe alued by at direct line of American steamers to lae Hoiub American stales will go far to outFelzb tue expenses ot the service. By an act of ton gress approved March 3, lsTa, almost all mattor. whether properly man matter or aot. may e sent amy distance lurougn me maus in pacagea not exceeding fojir pounds ia weight for the i m or to cents per pound, so far as the trans ttlsslon of real mail matter goes, this would -e entirely proper, but I suggest that the law e so amenuea as . to exclude irora tne mails herchandlze of all descriptions and to limit this fe-ansporiatlon to all articles enumerated and .-alert may ro ciatuieu a mall matter proper. ne aiHcovery oi goiu in THIS BLACK HILLS, portion of the Sioux reservation, has had the feet to induce a large emigration of miners to iat point. Thus far the effort to protest the -eaty rights of the Indians of that section baa een successful, but the next year will certainly rltnes a large Increase of such emigration. The Iegotiatlons for the relinquishments of the gold eldn having failed. It will be neeenrtary for con-re-s to adopt some measure to relieve the emnrrassment growing ontor the causes named. ne secretary of the interior suggests that the ppiies now appropriated ior the bsienance of that people, being K longer oousatory unuer tne treaty 18fl8 bat simply m gratuity, may be issued or 1th held at his discretion. The condition of the bdian territory to which I have referred la veralofmy former annnal mesages remains actlcauy uncnang a. ine secretary or the terlor has taken measures to Obtain a fall brt oi the condition of that territory and will axe ltioesutiiect or a special report at aa rly day. It may then be necessary make some father recommendations In rard to legislation for the government of that rrltory The steady growth and increase of buslnees of the patent offiee indtotA in me measure the progress of the Industrial aevltv of the country. The receipt of the ofllee ein excess of its expenditures, and the omoe a era! I y is in a prosperous and satisfactory con Uon.. The report of the general land ofllee lows that there were 3.4ö9,40i acre less disposed during this man during the rast year. ore than one-half of tola inereaae waa in lands posed of dd1v the homestead and timber tutnreiawi. lhe cauaeor this decrease is sap bsed to be found In the- graenhopper aeoarge d tnearoutns wnicn prevailed ao extensively some of the frontier slates and tern tones dar gtbattlme auto discourage and deter entrees actual settlers. ipe easn receipts were ks by- IT,xaa than durtor the eeedlng year. The entire surveyed ea oi the public domain u osuv .094 aoree, of whleh 2Q,t77.63l acres - were rveyed daring tke past year, leaving 1,164,1,762 acres still an n rveyed. The report of the ;n missioner presents many interesting sag .stlens in regard to the management and dlssltlon of the public domain and the modiflean of existing laws, the apsaroat importance wnicn should insare ior mem me carerui ntlderailon of congress. The ' HOSIER OF PK!M05M 11 continues to decrease, the highest number Vying been reached daring the year ending neae,lS73. Inring the last year 11.S.7T names r re added to the rolls and 12,977 were dropped orefrom, showing a net decrease of 1,427. Ba Klla the number of pensioners haa deereaael io aoBoal amoani due on the pension rolls Um ksreased lt,4.jia. This is caased by the creauy greased average rate of pensions, which, by a liberal legislation or congress, was increased hm f tMJi In l7i to lf,3l in lo, Uj esoD in Lild pensioner an lnctease In the average rate la percent, in the tnree years. During me ar ending Jnneautn, 187a, mere waa paid n kMHLui of pensions, lncinaing ine peases of disbursement, .ö.ö'M.llö, .nc imwi i less than wai paid w preeeaing year. iuia reaacuon in ine Louatof cimudilure wasv prodaoed by the hreara in the amount of arrearages doe on lowed claims aad on pensions, the ra e of Lieh waa increased by the legislation of the jncedLag lewioa of eounrea. A.I Iii Lse oi the last fiscal year there were I the . pension rolls 214.821 -i persons I whom 2 It) ,401 were army pensioners, lud, 478 rac imvalld an 4 lt4Sa widows auid uepuorelatives .were nary - penaloners, of homl.rj.iQ weralnraJlds and wldowiand Vandant ralaUvaa; wer penaloaers of

tho war or 112, 15475 of waom were- survivors and ' e.M were wMowa. - It la - eaaUnaUd

that a.s.9xSJMo 1 will bo . reauirea - ir thenavraantrtr renilohl fr the neat OfitsiJ rear, an amount of Öä.uUO les tha tho.eaU-, mate for tho present, year. The- geologic! ex- . pioratlons nave been proseeotoo im- "nw i dartngtheyear. covering aa area or about t 4i),uuu aauare miles im in wmmnw uwhwjw, , Utah and' iNew jaeioo, ueviuiK the ' agricultural and : miner ai resource, and larnUhlng interesUBg seientlaa topographical detail of that region- Tho method fer the traatmen t of too Indiana, adoptd at ih heainntne of mv first term, has been steadily pursued, and with saUalaotory and encouraging resultak- It,' has- been productive of evident improvement in tho condition, of that race' ana win oe ronunuea wiui, uu such modifications as farther, xperieaee - may lndieat to bo nsssssary. The boa rd- herotolora appointed to tafeeohaxge of articles and materials pertaining to war, the navy, the treasury; tht Interior and the. post office departments and the department of agriculture, the Smithsonian lastltate and the commission of food fishes to be contributed ander the ltglslstioa ol last session to TBI ICTB-RNaTIoaAIi XBIBITIO to be held at Philadelphia daring tie centennial year lsTo, nas oeen aingen ia uw ucharge of the duties which have devolved on it, and the preparations, so far made with the means a: command, give assur ance that the government's contribution will be made one or the marked characteristics of the exhibition. The board has observed commendable economy in tho matter of the erection of building for the governmental exhibit, the ex pense of which It is sumaiea . an s4M rr k i 111 not exoeea, say iui amount has been withdrawn unoer ine law from the appropriations or Ave of the prin cipal departments, and which leaves some of these departments wunoui sumcient menus to render their respective practical exhibits com plete and satisfactory. The exniDiuon reing an' International , one ana uie government being a voluntary contributor, it is my opinion that its contribution should be i Of a Character in qoiuiy ana extent to sustain the dignity and eredlt of so distinguished a contribution. The advantages to the country or a sreaitaoie aiapiay are, in an International point of vlew.ef the first impor tance, while an indifferent or eisorediiabie par ticipation by the government would be husalliaiing to the atriotio feelings of our people themselves. I commend the eetlof tne board ror tne necoaaary additional appropreatinns to the favorable consiaerauoo oi congtesa. m powers of Europe, almost without exception, manv of the Houto American autiea ana even the more distant eastern powers have manifested their friendly sentiment toward' the United States. The Interest or the world in our progi-ens la manlfesUd by their taking steps to Join with as In eelsbrallng the centennial of the nation, and I strongly recomtudnd that a more national importai ce oe given to this exhibition, by such legislation and by sacU appropriation as will insare its success, lis value Is inestimable in bringing to our shores useful works of art and skill, and the commingling of the citizens of foreign countries an oar own. and the Interchange of Ideas and manufaoiures will far ex. Ted any pecuniary outlay we may make. transmit nerewitn a report or the commissioner of agriculture, toicsther with the reports of the commissioners of the board of audit and board of health ot the District of Colombia, to all ot which 1 invite vour attention. The bureau or agriculture has accomplished muco In disseminating ueful knowledge to the agrieultu 1st, and also in introducing new and useful productions, adapted to oar own soil and climate, and Is wot t&y ox tne conunuea encouragement ui tue fo tern men V. The report or the commissioner or education, which accompanies the report of tae secretary of . the lnterier. shows a ratifying progress In educational matters. In ntarly every annual rar ssage that I have had the honor of transmitting to confess I have called your attention to the anomalous, not to say scandalous, condition or affairs existing ia the territory of Utah and I a ave asked for definite legislation to eorrect it. That POLTOAJST should exist in a free and Christian country without the power to punish so flagrant a crime against decancy and morality, seems preprosterous. True, there is no law to sustain this un natural vice, but what Is needec is a law to pun ish it as a crime and at the same time to fix the statu of the lnnoeent ebUdren, tho offspring of this system, and ef the possibly Innocent nlural wives, bnt aa an. institution, polygamy should be banished from the land, and while this Is- eeing .done 1 Invite the attention of congress to another, though perhaps bo leas - an evil, the importation of Chinese women, but few of whom are brought to our shores to purse e an nonor able or useful occupation. Observations while visiting the territories of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, dunng the pai autumn, convinced me tbat the aws regulating the disposition of. .public lands, timber, . etc., and probably the mining laws themselves, are very aeieetive ami snouia oe careruuy amended at aneawy day. In the territories where the eultlvstlon ot the soil can only be followed by irrigation it is not practicable. Tlieee lasds which an only be naed as paaanrea and this only where stock can reach water to quench Its thirst, can sot be govereed by the same laws as to entries and lands, every sere oi which Is an Independent estate by itself. Lands must be beld in ivrger quantities to , Justify the expense or conducting water upon it to mace it fruitful orto Justify utilising it as pastarage. The tim ber in DBOsüoc tne uerritoriea is principally con fined to the mountain regions, which are held for entry in small , quantities only and . as miners lands. Tne timber is tho . property of the United . States, for. the disposal of which there is bow no adequate law. The settler saust be come a consumer ef this ' timber, whether he lives npon the plains or engages In working the mines. Hence every man becomes either a tres passer Blrs sei ror knowingly a 'patron of tree passers.' My opportunities for observation were not sumcient to i usury me in recommenaing speclne legislation on these subjects, but l do recommend tnai a joint committee or tne two hmwM of aoornM. offielentlv lanre to be dl Tided into sub-oommlttees, be organized to visit all the mining states and territories during" the oemlng sammer, and that the committee shall report to congress at the next reeslea sacU laws or amendments to laws asltmay deem necessary to secnreiae Dest interests ot the gOTernment and the people of these territories 'who are dol ing so much for their development, lam sure the cltisensoccnfylng'the territories 'described DO IOT "WISH TO BB TKXSPAS&XRS, nor wtil they be if legal " ways are provided for them to become owners of these actual necessities of their posltlsn. As this will be the last annnal message which I hall have the honor of transmitting, to conarena before mr successor is chosen. I will re peat or recapitulate the questions whlco I deem or vital loisorianoe .to d legislated npon and settled . this session. First, that tke states shall be reo aired to afford the opportun ltv of a seod ou iura on school education to every child witnlu their limits; seeond, that no secta rian tenets shall be ever taugnt inanysanooi supported, in whole or in part, by the state, nation. - or by the i proceeds of any tax levied a pea any eommunlty te make education compulsory, so S ar as to deprive ail perton wnecsa net read aaa write rrom necomingTo ters after the year Is90. disfranchising none. kowtTtr, on rroQDdi of illiteracy, who may be vowrs at the time mis amendment taxes ececi third, to declare church and state forever separate and distinct, but each free- within lis proper sphe-e. and that ail church property shall baar Ha won proportion or taxes ; rourth, to drive out liceasexl immorality, such as polygamy and the importation or women ior illegal . nur noses. To recur again to tbe Centennial ysr, It would seem'trfat as now we are -about to begin the second century of oar national ex lstence.lt wonld be a most fitting time for these reformsfifih, to enaet such laws as will secure a saeedv return to a sound currency, sucn as WilL. command the respect of . the world .Believing that these views will eemsiead them selves to the rreat majority or the nun I tninamg patrtotlo citUens o: tue h nltvd ätatea, I submit the rest to congress. (Signed) TJ.P.Qaarcr. BiBcrmva Msnsio., Deo. 7, 187ft. ,m e ' At Norwich, Conn., the other day a tramp was given an old vest.' He soon returned with a five dollar bill he said he loand In one of the pockets.' , Tho gentleman of the house was so well pleased wltb hi honeety that be jrave him ar dollar, and- tbe next day aböotered 'that the ' bill ttu a wretchedly sxecuted ooanterlelt.

Till MANEUVERS OF MARS.

'IN TIMS OF - PHAGE PREP ABB FOR WAR." Tfca A rynnal Report of fh Secretary of War. BELKNAP'S BUSINESS TMK OOHDIIIO . or THS. MATT ASD THE ntlM OT THAT BRA5CH OF. THS PCBUO 8KRVIC A KITIKW OF THS UFORTS OF XtErARTXKirr cousaxpess, srro., btc. Tae following is a synopsis of the report of the secretary of war: The reerult are now well drilled before they are sent to Jola their com pa nie In the field. The secretary recommeodsthe enlistment of mnsio boys aboat the age of 11 years to furnish field musle,and he asks congress to make the proper provls'ons. (A brilliant conception f a master 1 mill tar y mtnd.l lie recommends the establish men t ef workshops la ' tne mllllaiy prisons. In this wav tho secretary hones they may be able to earn enough to take the expense of their main tenaneeofz-tne government. There have been 83 prisoners received during the year, and there are now i in the establishment. Those prisoners have been employed in various ways on tne prison binding and about the post, thus saving tbo expense of employing labor, 'ine secretary asks an appropriation for the Introduction of the workshop feature of the military prison scheme, lhe secretary says that he bas visited the frontier posts, and found them all in goo, i condition, the troops sold erly and dutiful, notwithstanding their Ue.at Ion from the com fdrts of civilization. lie asks for the re Deal of the act of March a. 1-ttS, abolishing regimental rands and that provisions be made for the maintenance of a band of twenty-five musicians to each regiment, lie thinks tbey should bo divided In. e four grades of excellence and compensation. At present there is not an aatnor.aea nana in the service except the one at the West Point Military Academy. THE WASnKRWOMBW. The law of March IGth, ISO I, aniv. irises women (In number not exceeding four :o a company) to accompany troops in the capacity of laundresses, and army regulations prescribe one laundress to every nine een, or fraction of nine teen, enlisted men. Under tbe existing army organis ition upward o: 1,300 laundresses are em ployed, and for all tbe work performed are amply compensated by the eullsted men. The aggregate cost to tbe government for rations supplied these women Is over jiia'.wio per annum, in addi tion to wh'ch quarters and fuel are furnished teem, and whenever tbe removal of troops be comes necessary It Involves a large amount of transportation for the la und re sea, averaging annaaUy about 30,0 u. When troops servln in the field are changing stations, owing to the tact that thee women and their children can net be transported with them, they naturally suffer by being left at posts .without their nat ural protectors, ana oitea at piaees wneretuey would not generally be entitled to rations, fuel and quarters. It has been found impossible 10 supp y laundresses with even habitable quar ters at many stations, owing to limited appropriations made by con tress ior barracks during tbe past three years. Considerable Buttering bas consequently been Imposed npon thee people. It la believed that in consideration or the above stated facts a material reduction, amounting to at lean one-half oi the pres nt number of laundresses, would not only be a measure of 'expediency nut or assointe economy, and that reduction is . recommended. The secretary recommends tbe keepii g of a record of Important events by post commandents, the same te be ine property or tne poet in the event or a transfer ef the command ant, to be sent te the war department in case of abandonment, lie asks that a transportation corp he provided ior as an auxiliary arm of I he service, that soldiera need not be detailed for that purpese. lhe secretary takes strong grounds again at the enlistment of married men, and would nave extreme measares adopted. If necessary. in case of their aeseruon 10 join ineir iam;jies aner the novelty has worn off he recommends executive clemency. Lie reports that the work of ears and improvement of national cemeteries haa teen satisfactorily periormea anriog tne year. Incloslag walls have been completed In nine cemeteries. Eleven still require walls. Fonr 1 od res have been com Dieted during the year; thirteen are yet to be built. The amount expended for this and other necessary work during the year was 1 25187 25. Cession of Juris. Ole Uon over a large number, of cemeteries haa not yet been granted by the several states, but a ttd Ii sat ion win De maae rrom year to year an tik such eession Is granted. The granite monnment at HaUsbsry, r. C, is nearly finished, lotal number of interments in national ceme teries on Jane 30. 1875. was 306,053. -The total number of bead-stones finished to this date Is 63,112. IWls work Is beisg vigorously prosecuted. THB SIUMAL. SERVICE. During the past year one hundred and two signal stations have been maintained, to fill the system, oa stations of observation Xrom wbloa reports are necessary to enable warning to be given of the app reach and force of storms and of ether meteorlo changes, for the benefit of ag rlcnltural and eonmerclal Interests. A series of daily telegraphic reports from stations In the West Indies, ex tending from Cuba, by Jamale, to liar bad oa ana tne winawsra- islands, : has bee a arranged fer. Tke issue of official . deduc tions bom the office of the signal oflloer rrom tae reports there received has continued during the year. A minute . examination ef these deductions and a -comparison with the meteorlo change afterward occurring within the- district - to wnicn eacn nae had reference have given the average percentage of 87.8 as verified,- A comparison oi this percentage with avenge percentages of preceding years ex hibits an improvement u accuracy witn each succeed! g year. - The display, of cautionary day and night : signals upon, tne laaes and at lhe great ports ef tbe Ualted States upon the .AtMnua ana .uaui ooasis nas oeen naaue systematically on oocaslens of supposed special dan ger i ur the total number of cautionary signals tnue disaiayed. jo per ont nas oeen aner ward reported aa justified. The telegraphio lines, reaching from Barn eg at to Cape May. and from Norfolk: to Cape Ii altera, on ths most, lreomnUd and In some places the moat dangeruus parts ol the coast, have been continued la ope ration as a part or the signal service, in view Of tho action of congress, masures have been taken to extend ths lines from II alte ras, by Wilmington, to Bmttbvllle, at the mouth of the ' Cane Pear river.' The stations neon thee lines are occupied, and the lines are operated by enlisted men. Tbe lines In Arizona from the Texas frontier and In the Indian Territory, already partly constructed, are approaching com Diet ion. Permanent benefit will result from the connection ot military posts by telegraph, and win greatly increase tne protection or rron tier villages upon the lines and country through men they pas. .- lhe question of tbe useful pre-an noun cement or approaching meteoric changes may be oon aideredas determined by now five years' suc cessful service.' AVlth each year of labor the pates ror improvement open -more plainly, wnafwas conjecture becomes certainty. - The co-operation ot selentlnc men is assured, both at home and abroad.- The success o the past Is a a tire index to the results of the futorev He recommends that the signal eervlee corps be oonsldened one of tbe bnrtaus or the department. GftASSHOPPHR BUFFKRSRS AND ANNUITIES. Under the aattx rity conferred bytboaetof congress approved February 10, 1675, for the re lie of persons from the ravages of grasshoppers the appropriation was placet nndertheehatga of officers of tbe subsistence department, with Instructions for the purchase and Issue of food to the eafTerers within the respective military departments. During me period wnenaestiin Hon from the cause referred to-was greatest, 1 967,108 rations were issued te 33 adults and tt,wa children under twelve ) ears or a-s, re sidlns: in the states ot . Minnesota. Nebraska Iowa a d Kansas, and the territories of Dakota and Colorado. Of the inmof H60.UJ0 approprl ated br cos areas IUJ.AK7 b9 waa disbursed tor tho purpose contemplated- by the act, and 13,112 31 was returned to tae treasury. A full and detailed -report of these issues will hereafter be submitted, la eoanpilsnos with the act nf congress upon tbe subject. I again call tbe tUentlon of congress to the recommendation contained in my last ' annual report for the enactment of a system ef annuities for tbe families or deceased officers, by voluntary deductions rrom the monthly par of those holding- commissions In the army. Certainly If private eompnies can inaKe money by an

annuity system. It Is In the power of the government at least to reader Itself secure In extending similar bene fesnt aid., it la proposed that, this aid shaft fee extended through the agency of tbe go fnment.-without eventual expense to tbe public treasury. it la argued that tbe money it be ded acted ander the operation of the proro.-cd' scheme Is worth to the government a certain per oen age of Interest. The well-settled principles governing life insurance would be app llrable to this plan, and Tie annuity tables wonld be prepared by tbe most careful and critical calculations. Tbe science ef probabilities has reached great precision in those computations entering Into life Insurance, but after certal a tables had been used 20 years, more or less, corrections could be made if they were found deficient, which would more perfectly accomplish the object of the scheme, via: the rendertntrof substantial assistance to the famines of deceased officers of tbe . army without actnat expense to tne government. PAYXASTKB'S milkaob, IEABOABO DKFEXSK, I "KTO.

The secretary asks for the re-establishment of the, mileage system for the paymaster's department to take the plaoe of the present "actual expense" account way of reimbursing paymasters for outlays In traveling from point to point. The works for the defense of our seaboard, under the engineer department, have progressed satisfactorily and as rapidly aa the means provided would admit. The class of works, adopted In 19, are heavy earth-batteries, thoroughly protected, and arranged for Rons and mortars as liable to resist the attack of the most powerful Ironclads. The battalion of engineers, under tbe law of June 18, 1874. reducing the army, has been limited to two hundred enlisted men. This number, in the opinion of the chief of I ' engineers, . IS ' too email - for tbe eCicient performance of the duties required of them. If war should o?cur with a maritime power, the want of trained soldiers to plant and operate our torpedo defenses 'would be serlou -ly lelt, and It lstubmltted whether the needs of this brncb ef service may not Justify a minimum organization 'for the battalion of not less than 5 e enlisted men. The trials with torpedoes have continued and have confirmed the previous1 views express d of the Importance of this auxiliary' In the; defense of ouf barbois, as well as the certainty that their use in time of war will prevent an enemy's vessels frem running past onr hatteries, and will enable us to bold them under the fire of out artillery. The secretary a&ks an ' appropriation of 517JKJO to assist Eads In opening Mississippi's mouth, and he asks that the engineers of tbe army be authorized to survey theMUsiss!ppl, with a view to the better -protection of the people and 'property In the country adjacent subject to overflow. BXPL0KATI05S RNaiNBB's KSTIMATES. The geographical ' explorations and surveys west of the one hundredth meridian, under the war department, have been in progress since say last report. The field work of the present season was divided into two main sections, with the Intention of surveying tracts in Colerada and California, and an officer with a special party was detailed to trake a preliminary In strumental survey, with a view to a complete examination as to the feasibility' of diverting the waters of the tiver Colorado for the par pore of irrigation, and It is hoped a report accompi a led by estimates of the cost will too received from tbe officer In charge of the party In time to be transmitted to congress at the com 'nH ses- ' slop, ine engineer's estimates, amounting in the agg eate to I17.'2W,871, a e approved; and addl tiotial appropriations asked for arming- and eqolpi-lnar the mlittla, and urged on tbogaound manne appropriations to mis purpose aretne i same as in its TJJiyru. ' ue recommends the maintenance of nil the arsenals. Including the one here, and -aaas-ror tne eataouanment ol grand central ordnance depots. ' MEXICAN AND INDIAN OUTRAGES. A campaign ag nst ths predatory Indiana lsst referred to Is now being- vigorously pros ecuted. It la believed tbal the particular bands against whom ml ltary operations are being conducted come from . Mexico, and, following their usual custom, have, after depredating on the settlements of . Northwestern Texas, re treated to the edge or and into the staked Plains. No e isive result - j has yet ecu obtained . Irom these operations. The secretary approves the report of the com manding general or xne aivision or tne racinc where he denounces tne dishonesty or the In dian agent, and cites lhe report cf the com mander general or Anson a, who reports that the lnereasedt security to the inhabitants or Arizona resultlug from the recent nil 11 tar y cperationa against the .indlaas has ' encoured im migration, and tne population or' the terrltery has , largely increased in the past year. lie tnmss uiat witn a rew years or peace and with increased facilities of transportation, the Uriitory will develop Into one of the most productive of those yielding" the'precious metals. Thoreportof the .commanding " general of the departmentof the Platte foreshadow trouble between me misers ana me inaisns in the rejlou of country known as the -Black Hills," uness something Is done to obtain posseaslon of that section lor 'the white miners -who have been strongly attracted there by reports of rich deposits or tne precious metais. tXXICAN MATTS RS ADD ALASKA AFFAIRS The report of the commanding general of the department or J.exas oon tains aetaiied inform Uon concerning the dimeaities which have cre ated men excuemenion tne i)wer iuo urande, where some of the most prominent offleer and wealthy merchants of that part - of Mexico ap pear to be regularly engaged In , fitting out par ties to plunder the stout ranches on this side of tae river. jKeporia or muraerin open. daylight oteeverai lanuenuai citizens, including United Utes ofilelals and soldiers, and other dastardly outrages on the part of these vagrant Mexicans, were made to tne ou vision commander, who invites .altenUen to the grave, character or. the . Invasions, and the importance of prompt and decisive measures on the part of me . government , for their suppression. " The general commanding .the department of Columbia renews his recommendation, that the attention of congress be invited to the present anomalous condition of the territory of Alaska, a pich, ander recent deeislons, is nearly wltheut the Jurisdiction of the courts, of law. The government a military , officer acting as Indian agent-is better than none, but is reported as irritating to those who consider themselves possessed of lhe same rights and privileges as citizens of other territories. Peace can be preserved between Indians and whites by the army, but that authority itself is called In question by the United Htai es District Court. If the army Is to govern tbe territory, congress should clearly establish that fact by appropriate legislation. The commanding general renews a former recommendation that Alaska be attached to Washington Ten ltary as a county, sad brought nader lis civil .government, and his facilities for Judging of the necessities of that action are sucnasto give Weight to his opinion.'. ! X8T1MATES A5D SXPXNDITURSS. The actual expendit ures of the war . department -tor the year ending June so, 1874, including river and harbor Improvements, were '.....1228,314 71 Toe same for tbe last fiscal year end ing Jane 8u, 1K7S. were .. 41,277,875 28 : Showing a reduction of.. ...Si ,048,939 43 The estimates for the military establlshment for the ensuing fiscal year ending June 3u, 1877, are 133,45290 50 Those for the carrent fiscal year end- - lug June 30, 1870, were 82,488,909 SO l Being an lncr-.aae of f ; 03,427 00 The appropriations for that purpose for tbe current fiscal year were -..123,727,407 99 The secretary says that the excess of the amount of the estimates for the ensalng fiscal year over the appropriation for the current' fiscal 'year arises from the fact "that, 'as experience has shown, tbe appropriations were not sufficient to meet the demands of ths service. CONFEDERATE BEQOBDS, , information has been received from dlffereat sources that many private Individuals have In their possession Important official records, principally of the late Confederate government, which ..they , are ,' willing ' to dispose of ; for a consideration,! .. bat tor the purchase of which there are no funds available at the' disposal of this department. Of ourse these records are properly the property of the government, but It seems impossible to obtain the Information 'necessary 'to their "reeoferjr tbrongh tbe courts or otherwise tbso by purchase, fro doubt is entertained bat that many ot these papera contain data that would eaable the government to dttect many fraudulent claims, wnlcli only eoald be ' proven to se sneh by the agency of these papers,' and It' Is recommended' ihat- congress,!. by: appropriate legislation, place this department In a posltlsn. to recover sach as preperl belong to Tos nies-

As It now Is. these Confederate reoords are so In

ears elete that the result of. their compilatlen will a cmarlij be very unsatisfactory to aH con cerneu.. m . . . V-i-. ,;. - " " - t COFXbEBATB RECORDS. . Good progress has" been made during the year in the preparation: of tbe official records of the war of the rebellion, both In federal and confederate tranches. ' I have placed the general supervision of the complication of these records in tlbe charge of the chief clerk of the department, who, under my direction, has organised an (efficient force of assistants, selected I rem those clerks who are best- acquainted with tho arrangement ot the official papers on hand, and wbb are well adapted to tbe wort by experience with department and army records. In rdf to facilitate the computation 1 and - historical wt rarageiaent of the reports and Corres ponden it was found necexsaryto copy and print a feW proof-sheets oreach document, so - that the ser Hees qf more than one parson coald be made available upon this part of the-wora, and also in ror that when, authentic copies had -been prihted the danger of loss by accident or fire, etc), might be Voided.' Prom the immense bum of papers on band the required documents are'belng selected, copied, compared - and put to press at the department, the proof being carefully 'read and compared with ' the original papers, and each document, letter,' report, telegram and paper Is being printed separately. Accuracy is absolutely required before these prln ed copies are placed in the hands of tbe compiler whose duty It then ia to collate and group the various subjects in order of date aad la accordance with their relation to each other. A large' mass of material has been collected copied, and a grest porttsn of It printed, and, as für as practicable, lhe printing b as been done from original documents, when the nature of the; records admitted, without recourse to copying by hand. This matter has not yt received ; its final arrangement and classification, owing to the difficulty of selecting at tbe same time papers relating to contemporary subjects. The estimate for the contlnuanceof the work for the next nscal year is SoO.OOU. FLOODED. BROOKVril CHASTENED BCT 2?OT CLEANSED BvmsTiaa or a great main a night or AX.ABH AND DSLUOB EXTENSIVE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. ' ' Y' The New York Herald of the 3d instant ba-j the following:. That portion of Brooklyn lying in the vicinity of the intersection of tie Kalb and Marcy avenues was greatly excited early yesterday morning by the occurrence of an accident which caused an extensive deetroction ot property, and, for a tlaey threatened the lives of a large number ' of ' ' persons. " The catastrophe wai the ' bursting of an immense water main' on DeKalb a venule, between Nostrand and Marcy avenue. The first intimation the - residents ot tbe neighborhood bad of their peril was tbe alarming sound created by the rushing of a mighty torrent. .When tbe Doise came to their ears the people living on DeKalb avenub sprang from their' beds and ran to the doors and windows of their booses to ascertain" tha cause' of tbe aQrlghtenlng noise which bad disturbed their slumbers. In the atrpet a startling sight met their view. From the center of the thoroughfare a great body of I water was-boiling up like some nam moth fountain and then ! RtJSHINO MADLY AWAY withgreit Telocity, Bpreadlnz, flooding stores and privat bouses, inundating the cellars and finding ita way Into ' not ' a few parlors. The height to which the water spouted was" at times nearly ' twelve feet, and H came up with a hissing noise, scattering dirt and stones In all directions. At this spootaele the affrighted people fled from their booses. When they realized that the buildings would not be sweDt awav In the flood they cautiously returned, and endeav ored . to save auch ol - their . house hold goods as were portable. Tbe water gained in volume so rapidly that they were soon obliged to construct rafts to navigate the street aud reach their own doors. The neWa of the disaster spread very quickly. ana in a short time hundreds or people came flocking to the 'ecene. Tradesmen deserted their stores acd swelled tke throng of lepectators tbat watched the flow of tbe waters nntil daylight, shivering in the pUrciDg cold wind, and quaking with fear mat their property waa in imminent dan gor of being swept away. They, gazed anxiously ana wearily at the spot where ! THE WATER GUSHED CP from the old 36-inch main, which had burst with such violence aa to tear up the pave ment for a space of about 30 feet. The flood continued at Its height for aboat two hours. Tie fact of the bursting of the main was telegraphed to the police central fflce. and waa thence forwarded to tbe East New York station bouse. From there a mounted messenger was despatched to the stoppage reservoir as Hempstead. As soon as he ar rived the water-gates were closed. The effect of tbe. abutting of .the gates upon the great torrent which was foaming through the Brooklyn , streets and threatening to engulf the city was very soon apparent. Ia less tban fifteen minutes the flow began to'subaids; in half an hour the water had sunk to the level of the curbstones, and was falling steadily into the swollen sewers through the ' four culverts at the corner ot Nostrand and. De Kalb avenues. The water continued flowing nntil noon, bnt at day Ugh it had subsided sufficiently to enable the citizens to ascertain tbe nature of the ac Cldent. ' Over the spot where ' ' THE OBBAT PIPE BURST THE EARTH had sunk about four feet. The excavation was filled with dirty water, giving it the appearance of a frog pond. Travel on the DeKalb avenue' line of cars was impeded np to noon and one of the cars, in attempting to pass over the hollow, fell v In and was raised .'with great dlffl cnlty. The damage wrought by tbe catastrophe will .reach in amonnt about 830,000. Aa far aa could be ascertained tbe heavy loeses were comprised between 613 ana 033 ueKaib avenue. The ' loss to the city Is about $5,000, which Is included in tbe total elven above. As soon aa the flood bad in a measure subsided a fire engine was set to pump the water out or the excavation a work which will not be completed before to-night. Some ot those who have ' suffered losses by .the. overflow talk of . bringing actions against the city. . A SCRAP OF. HISTORY. A HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED LETTER FROM . HORACE OBBLir OOMCBRSIKO THB SELEC- , T103I OF SCHUYLER COLFAX AS SPEAKER OF ' THB THIRTY-BfA HTH CONGRESS. A correspondent communicated tbe fol owing to the Cincinnati Commercial of yes Srday: A Washington correspondent of the Boston Globe, In a recent letter to that Journal, revives soiae Interesting re minis cences of the election of Schuyler Col Jax as speaker of tbe Thirty-eighth Congress. He gives . the . credit of that ; event almost wholly to "newspaper men." . He says: "When he reached Washington, about the 1st of November. 18ß3, as a member elect of the Thirty-eighth Congres, be bad about aa little, hope Vol being , elected speaker of tbe House aa any other memter. Ji; B. .Washburne, 'f Illinois, j waa a candidate for speaker; and bad been - working like, a bearer all sammer among (ho new mekn vera. .uuotJvt ifc , .waa guiueraiiy ounoeaeu (that Washburne would be elected - without

much. . opposition. Some of Mr. Colfax's newspaper friends called upon him at his hotel aoon aCer .Us. arrival j and sngzested that he should 'come ont as a candidate

aganst Wasbbnrne. Tbe project ssarcely looked feasible to him, though after some consideration be decided to adopt the saggesfion.r Aj Colfax newspaper, ring' .was imrjiediefery formed .'and Schuyler waa at ' ones thrust upon the country as a candidate for -speaker of tbe House.". Tbe Globe correspondent Is not so thoroughly advised of the. facts as be evidently supposes himself to be. I Immediately upon the election of Mr. Colfax to the Tbirty-eiebth Coneress bisi friends determined to make blrn speaker, and long ttefore the) . date -) mentioned in the above . extract they bad been' quietly, but earnestly, at work to accomplish tbat end.; And.' it is hardly necesearv to state tbat Mr.Ccllax was aware of what was going on. In proof of this send yon herewith a letter I re ceived from Mr. Greeley in tbe summer of ISC), with the explanation that tbe conservative Influence in Kentucky was at the time tooj decided to be overcome by any proposals as to the clerkship ot tbe House. Brdtua J. Clay, Laden Anderson, Wm. H. Randall . and Green Clay Smith voted for Cotyax, with no other Inducement tban a patriotic sense ot duty, while the balance of thnrf aletratinn nnnnrtaH M r f allnrtr tha ton. n -J - - j , "liv; 1ntative from the Louisville dis rict, Mr. ra. ptmseir voting ror Mr. King, of Missouri. Edward McPherson. of Pennsylvania, was elected clerk over Emercon Ktberidge, of Tennessee, Messrs. Clay, Anderson, Ran dall and smith voting for tbe former, and tber conservative colleagues for the latter. UOVTNQTON, JT.t Dec. 4, 1875. W. O. T. ' a iixttkb from oreelkt. Office of the Tribcxe. , New York. August 23, 1S69. Mr Dear Sir: I thank you heartily for yonraof the 20ib, just received. Its tidings were most welcome. You know, 1 presume, that we want to make Colfax speaker. If possible; if not, some other good man. Now, we'don't dare say anything decisive about thq Kentucky delegation, because we tear this will eanse your "conservatives" to vis(t them, labor with them, and plelge tbejm to go against us. Bat yoaandCumback, (whom I Know right well). at.d otner auch, must do quietly the work that we would only spoil by dabbling in it. Can't voa have the right men labor with Bruins J. Clay? I think he can not he used by the copperheads if be understands tbe issue.. I understand .Lncien Anderson to be right. bat dare not sav so. Green Adams save Randall is good. Can't you have a quiet canvass made and let us know privately how tbey stand? The clerkship of the House is afloat; it is a capital office, combining great nnaencewlth good pay; and the Kentucky delegation, I am confident, can designate tha clerk It tbey are disposed to go heartily with us in organizing tbe llouss. Defrees will naturally have much to do in managing thd canvass. Yon know him, of course, and probably correspond with him. You know Colfax also,' abd may correspond with him. Dot ne must say very little, nease loos: nio tbe matter and let me know in due irde what is the prospect. ( " Yours, Horace Gbuklbt. W. O. Tbrrbll, Eq., Newport, Ky.P. 8. I am to write a History oi the War. I apa much in want of a clear and connected aodountof the part played by Kentucky In the first stage of tbe contest,' with extracts rom the leading Journals, speeches, etc. But of this another time. A RELIGIOUS RUPTURE. BUBAL FI JETT A CHURCH rOLL OF TROUBLE I AND TRIBULATION. The Danville special to the Chicago Times of Monday says: The North Street Method 1st Episcopal Church of this city is in a bad way. bo me three years ago an old ana wealthy member ot the church, named Stephen Griffith, died here, bequeathing a large amount of property to that church and other religious and benevolent Institutions throughout the country, and leaving his children in absolute poverty. Tbe heirs em ployed Judge Hi. . Terry, ot this city, to contest the will, and altera fight lasting through several terms of tbe court tbe will was broken, and the property reverted to the Uriinth heirs, lhe community were well pleased with the result of that suit, or at leat tbat portion ot them who were not interested in the Institutions to which the bebeBts were made. The North Street Church made a stubborn fight for their portion of the swag, but, at the end of the long and expensive suit, lost all. This was a bard blow on them, but as tbey still owned a church and tbe valnadle land on which it is located, they submitted with tolerable grace to what tbey thought a great hard ship, and went on their way, if not rejoicing. aupmitting witn a Christian spirit to tbe inevitable. . Jost as they had set down to 1 the realities of the situation again. It I waa . discovered that Mr. Charles C. Tihcher, a young gentleman of this city, had bought their church, and THB VALUABUS GROUNDS ON WHICH IT ! STANDS. It seems that one George W. Wallace and wife, many years ago, deeded the land on which the church stands to the county commissioners of Vermilion county, as trustees for the use and benefit of the Methodist Episcopal church of the United States of America. In tbe Griffith cases, just terminated, the court decided that a foreign corporation could not hold real property In this state, and as the Methodist Episcopal church of the United States ot America is a foreign corporation, it Is held that no title passed from Wallace and his wife. Mr. Tincher nas bought of tbe Wallace heirs thetland, and it is supposed will begiD suit at once for ouster. Tne property is worth some $25,000, and to say tbat the members of the church are raying, is putting it milaly. There has long been a bitter fight between the members of this church and those of the Klmber Chapel Society, an offshoot of the old church, tbe Kimber congregation claiming that tbe North s:reeters refused to make an equitable division of the church property when the separation took place, aud it ia claimed by the North streeters that this trouble arose from this fact, they regarding it as a species of persecution on the part of tbe Kimber folks. However this may he, it Is pretty evident tbat young Tincher will gobble their church. Whether it will prove a white elephant on his hands or not, is yet to be seen. Mr. Ilncher infof med your correspondent in an interview on yesterday that ' the Kimber Chapel noiecty was in no manner interested in tne matter, nor is he in any way interested in the Kimber chapeL -This is parely a business transaction and be alone is responsible. , Mr. Bell, the eminent English sculptor who designed the groups for the plinth for the great Albert memorial 1 in Hyde Park, London,'' is reproducing In terra cotta, at the celebrated works In Lambeth, tho one which symbolizes America. The figures in this gronp are ooloseal, covering a ground space of fifteen' feet square, ft will probably be placed in the great central gallery, opposite tbe principal- entrance of the centennial building in Philadelphia. '