Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1877 — Page 6

retired lirt, be reixalcd. F-rarth. «>•* ‘be etaima aiising under the art ot July 4.1864. for sumilira tokoA by the army during the war. be taken from the office nfthcQuArtermnaUrnndCommiimnf General". *nd transferred t<> the Southern Claims Commißuon. or some other tribunal having more time and better facihUea for their prompt inveatigatioii nnd decision than are poa«cwm dby them-officer*. Fifth, that Conprcw* i>ro▼ide for an annuity fund for the fhmiliea of deceased soldiers, as recommended by the Pay-master-General of the Army. T.nc navy. The rrporU»f the Secretary of the Navy ahowa that we have fix wjuadrona now engaged in the protection of our commerce and pother duties pertaining to the Naval sendee. The condition and operatiofft of the Deiwutment areals*)shown. The total expenditure* tor the fiscal year ending June »». 1877, were *16.077,974.54. There are unKjd claims against the D< )»artnient chai-g* able to e last year, which are presented to the consideration ’of jn»ngn*s by the report of the Secretary. Tne estimate* for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1878. are *16.213.254.40. exclusive of the sum of $2,314,231 submitted fnr . new building*, repairs and improvements at the several Navy Yanis. The appropriations for the I Ent fiscal year commencing July, 1877, are ■tt.'XQ.tO. ’ The amount drawn from the iutv from July 1 to Nov. 1.1877. is *5,343,037.40. of which there is estimated to be yet available *1.029.528.30. showing the amount of actual expenditure during the first four months of the present fiscal year to have been *4,313,509.10. POHTOFFTCE DEPARTMENT. , ‘ The report of the Postmaster-General contains a full ana clear statement of the condition of the Postoflice Department. The ordinary revenues . of the Department for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1877,1 ni s lnding receipts from the money-order business and from official stamps nnd ’darnjM-d envelope*. amounted to the sum of *27.531,889.2b. The additional aum, ♦7,013000. was realized from appropriations from the General Treasury for Tantra* pnmoaea. making the receipts from nil source* 8-5.26. The total expenditure, during the Awal i ear amounted to ♦33.486 322.44, ler.nng an excel* of total receipt, or er total expi nditures of ♦1.058X62.W. and an excess of total expenditures over ordinary icceipta of ♦5.964,737.18. Deducting from the total receipt® the sum of ♦6.826,184.10 received from international money orders of the preceding fiscal year, and deducting from the total expenditures the sum of ♦1,163,818.20, paid on liabilities incurred in previous fiscal years, the expenditures and receipts appertaining to the business of the last fiscal year were as follows: Expenditures, 982,822,504.24; receipts (ordinary from the money-order businesa and from official postage stamp*!. $27,- • 468.323.42: cxciss of expenditures, .f The ordinary revenues of the PostofHce Depart- I merit for the vear ending J line 30,1879. are estimated at an increase of 3 per cent, over those of 1877. making ♦29,034,098.28, and the expenditure., for the same year air- estimated at t'36,427,771, leaving an estimated deficiency for 1879 of ♦?,- ; 893.392.ir2. The additional legislation recommend- ; ed bv the Postmaster-General for improvements ' of the mail service and to protect the postal revenues from the abuses practiced under existing l laws is respectfully commended to the careful consideration of Congress. JUDICIARY. The report of the Attorney-General contains several suggestions as to the administration of justice, to which I invite your attention. The pressure of business in the Hupreme Court and in certain Circuit Courts of the United States is now such that serious delays, to the great injury and even oppression of suitors, occur, and a remedy should be sought for this condition of affairs, whether it will he found in the plan briefly sketched in the report, of increasing ffie number of Judges of the Circuit Courts, and by means of tins addition to the Judicial force, of creating an intermediate Court of Errors and Appeals, or whether some other m<>de can be devised for obviating the difficulties which now exist. INDIAN RELATIONS. I leave to your mature consideration the present condition of the Indian tribeson the territory of the United States, and our relations with them are fully set forth in the reports of the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. After a series of most deplorable conflicts,the successful termination of which, while reflecting honor upon the brave soldiers who accomplished it, cannot lessen our regret at the occurrences, we are now at peace with all the Indian tribes on our borders. To preserve that peace by a just and humane policy will be the object of my earnest endeavors. Whatever may be said of their character nnd savage propensities, of the difficulties of introducing among them the habits of civilised Hie, and the obstacles they have offered, to the progress of settling in certain parts of the country, the Indians are certainly entitled to our sympathy and to a conscientious respect on our part for their claims upon our sense of justice. They were the aboriginal occupants of the land we now possess. They have been driven from place to place. The purchase money paid to them in some cases for what they called their own has still left them poor. In many instances, when they had settled down upon land assigned to them by compact, and b egan to support themselves by their own labor, they were rudely jostled off and thrust into the wilderness again. Many, if not most. of out Indians Ware nave had their origin in broken promises and acta of injustice upon our part, and the advance of the Indian in civilization has been slow, because the treatment they received did not permit it to be faster and more general. Nut cannot expect them to improve and to follow our guidance unless we keep faith with them in respecting the rights they possess, and unless, instead of depriving them of opportunities, we lend them a helping hand. 1 cordially approve the p dicy regarding the management of Indian affairs outlined in the reports of the Secretary es the Interior and of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The faithful performance of our promises is the first condition of a good understanding with the Indians. I cannot too urgently recommend to Congress that a prompt and liberal provision be mad) for the conscientious fulfillment of all agreements entered into by the* Government with the Indian tribes. To withhold the means necessary for the performance of a promise is always false economy, and is apt to prove disastrous in its consequences. Especial care is recommended to provide, for the Indians settled on their reservations, cattle and agricultural implements to aid them in whatever efforts they may make to support themselves, and by the re-estabfishment and maintenance of schools to bring them under the control of civilized influences. I see no reason why Indians who can give satisfactory proof of having by their own labor supported their families fra a number of years, ana who are willing to detach themselves from -JMr "MW should not be toe benefits or the Homestead act and the privileges of citizenship; and I recommend the passage of a law to that effect. It will be an act of justice as well as a measure of encouragement Earnest efforts are being made to purify the Indian service, so that every dollar appropriated by Congress shall redound to the benefit of the Indians themselves. These efforts will have my firm support With an improved service and every possible encouragement held out to the Indians to better their condition, and to elevate themselves in the scale of civilization, we may hope to do, at the time, a good work for them and for ourselves. CONSERVATION OF TIMBER. I invite the attention of Congress to the importance of the statements ana suggestions by the Secretary of the Interior concerning the depredation committed upon the timliex-lands of the United States, and the necessity for the preservation of the finest*. It is believed that the measures taken in pursuance of the existing law to arrest these depredations will be entirely successful if Congress, by an appropriation for that purpose, renders their continued enforcement possible. The experience of other Nations teaches u* that •country cannot be stripped of its forests with impunity, and we shall expose outselves to the gravest consequences unless the wasteful and improvident manner in which the forests of the United Stites are destroyed be effectually checked. I earnestly recommend that the measures suggested by the Secretary of the Interior for the suppression of depredations on the public timber-lands of the United Stites, for the'selling of timber from the public lands, and for the preservation of the forests, be embodied tn law, and that, considering the urgent necessity of enabling the people of certain States and Territories to purchase timber from the public lands in a legal manner, which at present they cannot do, such a law be passed without unavoidable delay. * DESERT LANDS. I would also call the attention of Congress to the statements made by the Secretary of the Interior concerning the disposition that might be made of the desert lands, not Irrigated, west of the one hundredth (100th) meridian. These lands are practically unsalable under existing laws, and the suggestion is worthy of consideration, that a system of leasehold tenure would make them a source of profit to the United States, while at the same time legalizing the business of cattle-raising, which is at present carried on upon them. AGRICULTURE. The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture

contains the grntifyin" nnnounrem< nt of the extraordinary success which has rewarded t'le agricultural industry of the country for the past year. With the fair prices which obtain fur the products of the soil, especially for the surplus which our people have to export, we ma. confidently turn to this ns the most important of all our resources for the revival of the depressed industries of the country". The report shows our agricultural progress during the year, and contains a statement of the work done I bv this Department for the advancement of , I the agricultural industry upon which the S ‘asperity of our people so largely depends, alters of information are included, of great interest to all who seek, by the experience of others, to improve tlieinjjwrvmethods of cultivation. The efforts of thclJepartincnt to increase the production of important articles of consumption will, it is hoped, improve the demand for labor nnd advance the business of the country, and eventually result in saving some <f the many millions that are now annually paid to foreign Nations for sugar and other staple products. which habitual use has made necessary in our domestic every-day life. CENTENNIAL BOARD. I The Board, on behalf of the United States Executive Derartmenta at the International Exposition of 1876, has concluded its labors. The final report of the Board was transmitted to Congress at the last sessi on. As these papers are understood to contain interesting and valuable information, nnd will constitute the only repori%emnnnting from the Government on the subject of I the Exhibition, I invite attention to the matter, and recommend that the report be published fbr general information.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Congress is empowered by the Constitution with the authority of exclusive legislation over the District of Columbia, in which the seat of the Government of the Nation is located. The interests of the District having no direct representation in Congress, are entitled to especial consideration and care at the hands of the General Government. The Capital of the United States lielongs to the Nation, and it is natural that the American people should take pride in the seat of their National Government, and desire it to be an ornament to the country. Much has been done to render it healthful, convenient and attractive, but much yet remains to be done, which its permanent inhabitants are not able nnd ought not be expected to do. To impose upon them a large proportion of the cost required for public improvements, which are in a great measure planned and executed for the convenience or the Government and of the many thousands of visitors from all tftrts of the country . who temporarily reside in the Capital of the NaI tion, is an evident injustice. . , Special attention is asked by the Commissioners of the District, in their report, which is herewith transmitted, to the importance of a permanent adjustment by Congress of the financial relations between the United States and the District. involving the regular annual contribution by the United States of ita just proportion of the 1 expenses of the District Government, and of the 1 outlay for all needed public improvements, and such measure of relief from the burden of taxai tion now resting on people of the Distri ct as, in the wisdom of Congress, may be deemed just. The report of the Commissioners shows that ' the affairs of the District are in a condition as satisfactory as could be expected, in view of the heavy debt resting upon it, and its very limited I means tor necessary expenses. The debt of the District is as follows: Funded debt. ♦8,379,691.96; 3.65 bonds guaranteed by the United States, I ♦13,743,250; total bonded debt, $22,122,941.96;t0 ■ which should be added certain outstanding claims as explained in the report of the ComI missioners. 81,182,204.52, making the total debt of the District, ♦23,810,146.48. The Commissioners also ask attention to the importance of the improvement of the Potomac Biyer, and the reclamation of the marshes bordering the City of Washington, and their views upon this subject are concurred in by the members of the Board of Health, whose report is also herewith transmitted. Both the commercial and sanitary interests of the District will be greatly promoted, I doubt not, by this improvement. Your attention is invited to the suggestion of the Commissioners, and of the Board of Health, for the organization of a Board of Charities, to have supervision and control of the disbursement of all moneys for charitable purposes from the District Treasury. I derire alsoto ask your especial attention to the need of adding to the efficiency of the public schools of the District, by supplemental aid from the National Treasury. This is especially just, since so large a number of those attending schools are children of employes of the Government.

I eameistly commend to your care the interests of the people of the District, who are so intimately associated with the Government establishment, and to whose enterprise the good order and attractiveness of the Capital are largely due, and 1 ask your attention to the request of the Commissioners for legislation in behalf of the interests intrusted to their care. The appropriations asked for the care.of reservations belonging to the Government within the city by the Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds, are also commended to your favorable consideration. , THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. Tire report of the Joint Commission created by the act approved August 2, 1876, an act providing for the completion of the Washington Monument, is also Herewith transmitted, with accompanying documents. The Board of Engineer Officers detailed to examine the monument in compliance with the second section of the act, have reported that the foundation is insufficient. No authority exists for making the expenditure neesssary to' secure its stability. I therefore rec-’ ommend that the Commission be authorrized to expend Buch portion of the sum appropriated by the act as may be necessary for the Surpose. The present unfinished condition of te monument, begun so long ago, is a reproach to the Nation. It cannot be doubted that the patriotic sense of the country will mainly respond to such prompt provision as mav be made for its completion at an early day. and I urge upon Congress the propriety and necessity of immediate legislation for this purpose. EDUCATIONAL. The wisdom of legislation upon the part of Congress in aid of the States for the education of the whole people in those branches of study w.)iieh are taught in the common schools of the country, is no longer a question. The intelligent judgment of the country goes still further, regarding it as also both Constitutional and expedient for the General Government to extend to technical and higher education such aid as is deemed essential to the general welfare, and to our due prominence among the enlightened and cultured Nations of the world. The ultimate settlement of all questions of the future, whether of aiiininistaitiini or finance, or of utrise Nationality of sentiment, dejx-nds upon the virtue and intelligence of the people. It is vain to hope for the success of a free Government without the means of insuring the intelligence of those who are the source of power. No less than oneseventh of the entire voting population of our country are yet unable to read and write. It is encouraging to observe, in connection with the growth of fraternal feeling in those States in which slavery formerly existed, evidences of increasing interest in universal education. and I shall be glad to give my approval to any appropriate measures which may be enacted by Congress for the purpose of supplementing, with National aid, the local systems of education in these States, and in all the States; and having already invited vour attention to the needs of the District of Columbia with respect to ita public school system, I here add that I lielieve it desirable, not so much with reference to the local wants ot the District, but the great and lasting benefit of the entire country, that this system should be crowned with a university in all respei-ta in keeping with the National Capital, and thereby realize the cherished hopes of Washington on this subject NATIONAL MUSEUM. I also earnestly commend the reqnest of the Regents of the' Smithsonian Institute, that an adequate appropriation lie made for the replenishment and conduct of a National Museum under their supervision. CONGRESSIONAL IJBRARY, ETC. The request of providing for the preservation and growth of the Library of Congress is also one of National imp irtance. As the d -poaitoiy of copyright publications and records, this library has outgrown the provisions for its accommodation, and the election, on such site as the judgment of Congress may approve, of st fire-proof library building, to preserve the treasures and enlarge the usefulness recommend also such legislation as will render available and efficient for the purpose of instruction, so far as is consistent with the public service, the cabinets or museums of invention, of surgery, of agriculture and other collections, the property of the National Government. The Capital of the Nation should be something more than a mere political center. We should avail oumelvi s of all the opportunities which Providence has here places! At our command to enhance the general intelligence of the people and increase the conditions most favorable to the success and

perpetuity of our institutions. (Signed) Washington, Dec. 3,1877.

The Indian Question— Recommendations of Sec’y Schurz.

The Secretary of the Interior devotes a considerable portion of his annual report to the discussion of the Indian policy. After reviewing the events of the year, such as the Sioux and Nez-Perpcs wars, trie flight of Sitting Bull, and tlic visit of the Commissioners. Sec’y •Schurz makes the following retnarks on the Indian ixilicy: While some progress lias tieen made In the adjustment of difficulties, and the danger of disturbance on a large scale seems remote, it would lie upwise to lose sight of the lesson taught by experience, that In these things appearances nre sometimes deceptive, and that the general condition of our Indian affairs is by no means satisfactory. It is useless to disguise the fact that n perfect solution of the Indian problem—that is to say, so complete an absorption of the Indians In our social and jxiliticafsystem that they no longer appear as an incongruous and troublesome element —Is, in our day at least, fraught with perplcxitlei which cannot lio solved by a mere stroke of legislation. We are frequently reminded of the fact that the character of our Indians does not materially differ from that of the Indians in the British Possessions on this Continent, and that, nevertheless, peace and friendly relations are maintained there between the Indians and the whites. That Is true; but the condition of things in the British Possessions is, in some verv important respects, essentially different from that which exists in the United States, in the British Possessions the bulk of the Indian population occupy an immense area, almost untouched by settlements of whites. In that area the Indians may roam about in full freedom without danger of collision, and the abundance of fish and game furnishes them comparatively ample sustenance. The line dividing the Indians and the whites can be easily controlled by a well-organized body of police, who maintain peace and order, but, in the United States, we have no longer a dividing line. The Indian frontier has virtually disappeared. There are still other complications aggravating this condition of things. Theearly Colonists on this Continent saw in the Indian tribes surrounding them a formidable power, and naturally entered with them into formal treaty relations. That system has come by inheritance down to our days, when the Indians, under a radical change of circumstances, appear at the same time as independenttribes, as National wards and assubjeets. Taking all these things together, the interspersion of white settlers, reckless adventurers, and more or less wild Indians in one another’s way, the anomalous and, in some of its features, absurd treaty system, with its ever changing finalities, its frequent deceptions, unavoidable misunderstandings, and incessant disappointments, the temptations to fraud and peculation in furnishing and distributing supplies, the careless and blundering management of agents removed from immediate supervision, the sometimes accidental, sometimes culpable, non-fulfillment of promises and engagements, the distress and suffering ensuing therefrom, and the comparatively lawless, uncontrollable condition of societj- in that part of the country which the bulk of the Indian jxipulation inhabits, we'find in the Indian question an array of difficulties, complications and perplexities—a complete solution of which in a short period of time seenis unattainable. In my opinion, our efforts should be mainly directed to the following points: 1. T’he first tiring necCTsarristhat wfrshould

1. iIJC JIIDV 111 1 » l.tlliuv ~X. AA.V-VA.K. keep good faith with the Indians in every respect. We should never promise them more than we are able and willing to perform, and then perform what we have promised. 2. The pursuit of hunting is as much as possible to be discouraged among the Indians. The excitement of the chase stimulates their warlike propensities. When the Indians cease to be hunters they will, in a great measure, ce-ase to be warriors. To tlite end they should be permitted to possess only a limited supply of arms and ammunition, and their ponies should be exchanged as much as practicable for cattle. 8. As a number of Indian tribes are still depending in part, at least, upon hunting for their sustenance, their wants must be provided for tn another way. They should b« gradually gathered upon a smaller number ol reservations, where agriculture and cattleraising can be carried on with success, and where they can easily be supplied with theii neeessarisS until they are self-sustaining. The Indian Territory has room for most of the Southwestern tribjs, which should be gradually located there as they come under control of the Government. One or two reservations in the Northwest this side of the Mountains, and a similar consolidation ol reservations on the Pacific slope, to be determined on after more minute Inquiry into local circumstances, will accommodate the Northern Indians. The interspersion of Indians and whites, which is so apt to lead to troublesome collisions, can, in this way, be considerably limited, and greater facilities will be afforded for the promotion of civilization. 4. While Indians cannot be expected to becomesuccessful farmers at once, several tribes have already made appreciable progress in that respect, arid others are likely to do so under favorable circumstances and judicious management. 5. The enjoyment and pride of the individual ownership of property being one of the most effective civilization agencies, tiie allot.ment of small tracts of land should be made to the heads of families on all reservations, to be held in severalty, under proper restrictiops, so that they may have fixed homes. 6. To protect "the security of life and property among the Indians the laws of the United States, to be enforced 'by proper tribunals, shoiSd‘'i>ux i .<rt!l«ffetf Wei s tne rfeseHatiilns, ana a body of police, composed of Indians, and subject to the orders of the Government officers, should be organized on each of them. It is a matter of experience that Indians thus trusted with official duty can almost uniformly be depended on in point of fidelity and efficiency. « 7. The establishment of schools for the instruction of the young is gradually being extended among the Indian tribes under our control as far as practicable. The attendance of Indian children should be made compulsory. One of the most important points is that they should be taught to speak ana read the English language. Efforts have been made to establish ana teach the grammar of Indian dialects, and to use books printed in those dialects as a means of instruction. This is certainly a very interesting and meritorious philological work, but, as far as the education of Indian children is concerned, the teaching of the English lamguage must be considered infinitely more'useful. If Indian children are to be civilized, they must learn the language of civilization. In this way a young generation may be raised up far more open to civilizing influences of a higher kind, and more tit for a peaceful and profitable intercourse with the white people. 8. At many of the agencies farmers are employed and salaried by the Government, but in some, if not in most cases, the farms have been worked by white men merely to raise crops for supplying the agencies and the Indians. They are to be turned to much greater advantage. The farms should be used, in the first place, for th? instruction of the youths at school. 9. On the reservations the labor of white men is to be dispensed with and Indian labor discrimination should be rcacle'in the distriKition of supplies and annuity goods, nnd the granting of favors bet ween those who work and those who live as idle vagabonds, so that honest effort might be encouraged by tangible recognition and reward. Some of these reforms have for some time been in progress. Others are in course of preparation. Their accomplishment requires time and patient labor, and above all things, an honest and efficient Indian Service. The Indian Service has. in some of its branches, long been the subject of popular siMpieion.

R.B. Hates.

Without attracting undue Importance to vague rumors or allegations, it must be said that frequent investigations have shown that suspicion to be not without good reason. Inquiries instituted by myself since I was charged with the conduct of this Department have convinced me of this fact. As a result of such inquiries, presumptive evidence of fraudulent practices of a gross character have been senfito the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution, as well as civil action,

The Mint.

Washington, rtov. 37. Dr. Linderman, Director of the Mint, has submitted his annual report to the Secretary o' the Treasury. The report shows the operations of the Mint and Assay Offices for the last fiscal vear to have been as follows: —— Gold bullion received and operated upon ■ ■ .♦60,382,502 76 Silver bullion received and operated upon 37,429.329 93 T0ta1♦97,811,832 69 Deducting redeposita—liars made and issued by one institution and deposited at another-the deposits were: G01d♦44.078,198 Silver 28,549 935 Minor 62,105 T0ta1.T72.69J&8 Compared with the previous year there was an increase of ♦2,(M2,‘ii2.24 in the amount of gold, and 193,2;in the amount of silver bullion operated upon; 50,899,236.50 in gold coinage, and 69,423,532.50 in silver coinage. The increase alone in the silver coinage over that of the last fiscal year has been greater than the total amount of silver coinage executed in any one year prior to 1874. The trade-dollar continues to grow in favor in Cliina, and a decided preference for it is shown by the Chinese residents in San Francisco, who, on the Ist of October last, were paying for it 2 per cent, above the price of Mexican dollars in London, both coins being nearly equal in intrinsic value. The Japanese are now coining a trade-dollar, with a view of reaping the benefits of a coinage manufactured exclusively for trade purposes, and with the evident intention of exjiorting it to China, where it has been made a legal-tender at one or two ports. In speaking of the coinage of the proposed dollar, the Director says that half of our minting capacity is in the States west of the Rocky Mountains, and where but a small amount of silver dollars will be required for circulation. In order to insure the general distribution of the new coin, the expenses of transportation should be paid by the Government out of the gain or seignorage. He also suggests that the legal tender of a silver dollar should be limited to an amount sufficient, to prevent it from expelling gold from the country, and for the purpose of restricting its issue to' the requirements of the public for such iponey, as well as to keep it at par with the full legal-tender money, it should be issued only in exchange for United States notes and gold coin. If such a restriction be placed on the issue, no limitations as to the amount to be coined will be necessary. These coins should also by law be made receivable by the United States lor all dues except duties oh imports. The Director estimates the present running capacity at about $2,000,000 per month in silver dollar pieces, and believes the issue of that amount would prove of much benefit to the jfublic, aid in i-ti mid at ing a revival <>{ business, steady the value of silver,’ and protect our important silver-mining interests. The Director states that to estimate the amount of coin and bullion in the country is always a matter of uncertainty, one of the obstacles in the way being the impossibility of determining, with any degree of accuracy, the amount of gold and silver consumed in the arts and manufactures and especially as coin as well as bars is used for those purposes. It is also quite difficult to estimate the amount In private hands. Taking these difficulties into consideration be thinks it not far out of the way to state the amount of gold coin and bullion ndw in the country at about $185,000,000, and silver at $50,000,000.

The Army.

Washington, Nov. 30. The report of the Secretary of War, in addition to the usual formal review of the condition of the Army, and the military operations for the past year, contains some important recommendations, the most prominent of which is that relating to organization. The Secretary, after alluding to the injurious effects of' the constant interfering with the Army by legislation, threatening reductions, urges an elastic system of organization which will be capable of extension in case of necessity to an aggregate force of 30,000 to 40,000 men. He considers that the necessities of the country demand a military force not less than that now authorized by statute, which should be capable, by increasing the numerical strength of the companies, of being raised to the standard necessary to meet any ordinary contingency. The report, in speaking of the Indian service, favors the placing of the feeding of all the Indian nations now provided witli rations by the Government in charge of the Commissary Department of the Army. On the subject of the retirement of officers from active service, the Secretary urges legislation which will remove the present limitation as to the number of officers who may be on the retired list at the same as at present. This number is 360. By a removal of this limitation the number will not be materially increased, as a careful inquiry shqws that with the proposed changes there .would. be ouly abqut fqrty officers to add to the iist. The SeefSlarj’ dots not lavdi any change in the portion of the statute which leaves the question of retirement to the discretion of the President. It ha% always been urged by the younger office rs of the Army that it should be obligatory up»n the President to retire officers at the age of sixty-two. In regard to the recent order directing the temporary suspension of the publication of the record of the battles in the Army Register, the Secretary of War says it was absolutely necessary, as the list, as furnished to the Department, was in such confusion that it was impossible for the officials at the War Office to remedy it. He save that originally a request was sent to officers to furnish the Department with a list of the battles in which their several regiments had been engaged. Some sent in answers giving a list of unimportant engagements; others sent in skirmishes; and others again a list of battles where their regiments were present, but not participating; while a few confined their statements to such important engagements as might prop crly.be designated as battles, and .in which their commands were actually engaged. The general disposition seemed to be to claim more than was deserved, so that in order to correct the records their publication was temporarily suspended. These records will probably again appear in the Army Register of next year.

The Nary.

Washington, Dec. 2. The Secretary of the Navy, in his annual report, says the appropriations available for the. are ♦13,592,932. The whole amount drawn from the Treasury from July 1 to Nov. 1, 1877, is ♦5,343,037. Of this amount there is 'estimated to hare been in the hands of the Paymasters and agents of th? Government, on Nov. 1,1877, $876,528, besides $152,000 refunded, making the total $1,028,528, which, deducted from the amount drawn, will show the -acF' tual expenditure from July Ito Nov. 1, 1877, to have been $4,313,509. T'he estimates for the present fiscal year are $16,233,234, exclusive of $2,314,231 submitted for new buildings, repairs and improvements ot the several navy yards.

In the report of the Secretary of the Navy, Nov. 29,1876, the estimated amount for the pay of the Navy for the present fiscal year was $7,800,000, the computation being based upon the number of officers and men then borne upon the register. Congress, however, by act of March 3, 1877, appropriated only $6,600,000 or $700,000 less than the estimate. This will necessarily produce a deficiency at the end of the fiscal year, unless Congress shall appropriate the ajjove amount, the payment of which to officers and men is so fixed by law that it cannot be evaded. The amount appropriated for deficiency at the extra session of Congress has reference onk to the last fiscal year, ending June 80, 1877, rand was based upon the amount ascertained to be due upon the books of the Fourth Auditor’s office, whereas the deficiency here referred to is estimated for the present fiscal year, ending June 80,1878.

A Young Lady Struek Dumb—A Dream and its Fulfillment.

The case of Miss Agnes Eagan, the operative of a Fall River mill, spoken of in the Post of Friday last> is one of singular interest, and has created considerable comment among those familiar with the facts. That her dream should be impressed upon her mind with so mucli force, and afterward prove true, even to the slightest detail, is wonderful. The following are the facts of the case as near as can be learned: Miss Eagan is a young lady nineteen years of age, who lives with her mother and two sisters at the corner of Seventh and Bedford streets, Fall River, and has been employed for some time past in the Granite Mill in that city. She is of a very cheerful disposition, pleasant, genial and obliging; in fact, the light of her home and a favorite with all who .knew her. Her manner is refined and ladylike; in feature and form sjie is comely, and, for one in her condition, she is remarkably intelligent. But for the past six weeks she has appeared like one in a dream, sober, taciturn and melancholy, as if she had a foreboding of some coming misfortune. On Tuesday, the 6th inst., she appeared more cheerful than she had been for some time. ‘She retired at the usual hour, but on arising the next morning was very much depressed, and on being questioned as to the cause replied: “I had a fearful dream last night. I thought that I went to the mill and was talking with one of the girls, and while talking with her I was suddenly unable to make any noise and did not speak again, but was able to hear anything that was said.” Her friends laughed at her anti said she was foolish to let such a thing worry her, and endeavored to draw her mind from the subject, but in vain. She continued to talk about the matter while in the house, ant Lon arriving at the mill she told her associates about it, and they also endeavored to show her the folly of her fear, but to no purpose. About eleven o’clock one of her chums said to her: “ Agnes, are you going to the party to-morrow night?” She replied, “No, I think not; I do ” and she was dumb. Her dream vyas a dream no longer, but a stern reality. Not a sound could she make. The shock was preceded by a sharp tingling sensation in the throat, extending through the entire system. She made known her condition by means of writing, and a physician was at once summoned, who pronounced the attack a nervous one, and stated that with care she would recover; that many persons have lost their voices in the same manner, , and advised the use of the electric battery. But the young lady refused to subject herself to that mode of treatment, and stated that she was confident if they did she would also lose the sense of sight and hearing. Since the attack Miss Eagan has recovered her former cheerful disposition, and is apparently as happy and contented as. before her misfortune. She has resumed her duties at the mill, and her friends hope •that with care she will in time recover her speech She passes among them as of old, but her voice is hushed, and the power to articulate seems to have gone from her entirely.— Boston Post.

How Long Will the Forests Last?

Under such a tremendous yearly drain, the question naturally comes up, How long will our forests hold out at the present rate of manufacture? It is really an important question, upon wKicn unib'ws ’ fift* ihquh vWTiJ what we are to do for building material when this magnificent wood—pine—is exhausted. One authority after another has entered formally upon its solution, with satisfactory results in focal instances, but very vague ones as to the field at large. At the rate we~afecutting it to-day, from thirty to fifty years seem to be agreed upon as about the limit. Twenty years ago there was apparently no limit, for the consumption was not only less, but the means for its manufacture were primitive, and accomplished much smaller results than now. It seems as if it were impossible to further improve the machinery of saw-mills; but the near future may, for all that, see sawing machinery in comparison to which that of the present will be contemptible. So, although twenty years ago there was no foreseeing the end of the timber, now, with the modern mills and myriads of them, we are beginning to calculate with dire certainty as to the time when the “Wooden Age” will be a thing of the past.— Charles D. Robinson, in Scribner for December. —“ Curious thing about that statue ’of W ash in gton, ” saidoldSmashpipes, in a musing sort of tone, as he sauntered past Independence Hall with .Starlight. “Curious thing, always shrinks when it rains, you know.” say so?” said Starlight. “ Fact!” muttered the oilman. “Every time it rains it becomes a mere statue-wet!” And the old man's left thumb went under Starlight’s fifth rib with tremendous violence.—Philadelphia Bulletin.