Knoxville journal. [volume], December 10, 1874, Image 2

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The Knoxville Journal
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KNOXVILLE, IOWA.
General News Summary*
Washington News*
Tbe friend* of Vice President Wilson say ft
ia probable he will preside. over the Senate
daring tbe winter.
In the Mfe burghury conaplraejr esse at
Washington on the 27tl» the Jury reported
that they could not agree ufon the guilt or
innocence of Whitely and Harrington, but
found Williams not guilty. 14 la understood
that on the first ballot the jury atood eight
for acquittal and four for conviction in Har
rmgton's caee, and in Whitely's case nine for
acquittal and three for conviction.
The United States Supreme Court has decid
ed that tbe Indians, in their tribal relation#,
hare no property rights in fee also that the
timbers and minerals on the reservations are
apart of the realty, and cannot be sold or
leased.
The following gentlemen will have seat* in
Congress this winter by election to All va
cancies:
William K. Flnck Mem. elected, Tlce
Hnph J. Jewe.lt resigned.
A5w YorJt-Slinwn it. Chittenden find ), vice
Stewart L. Woodford (Rep.) restem-d: and Rlch
nr(i Hchell 'Dern.fr vice David B. Melllsh (Rep.),
deceased.
Hrmtk Carolina-Lewis Cuff Carpenter (Rep.
vice Robert B. Elliott (Rep.), resigned.
In his roftort the 1'ostmaster-Gciusral states
the postal revenues for the year ending June
30, 1H74, at $2l,5!Ki,.VW expenditures, $32,
120,414 estirniited expenditures for the year
ending June Hi), 1H75, *:W,9«4,o:i4 total esti
mated revenue, $20,148,150—leaving a defi
ciency to be appropriated out of the general
treasury of $7,xl.r,K7H. These estimates do
not Include appropriations for steamship ser
vice and stamps, amounting to $2,0SW,500.
The Secretary of the Treasury lias directed
the Assistant Treasurer at New York to sell
$500,000 of gold each Thursday during Decern,
ber.
The report of the Commissioner to prepare
instructions to Postmasters concerning the
prepayment of newspapers and periodical
jtostage after Jan. 1, 1875, sustains the recom
mendations of Third Assistant Postmaster
ien. Barber as to a plan for car
rying out the law in the most convenient
and simple manner. Inn tend of placing
stamps on separate periodicals or papers, or
on the packages containing them, according
to weight, the forms already printed show a
current account with publishers, and after the
printed matter is weighed lhe requisite
amount of stamps Is jxisted In the form of a
receipt given to the publisher or his agent at
the time of mailing, the credit and th#receipt
having a corresponding number.
The statement of the condition of tbe pub
lic debt Dec. 11s as follows:
Six percent, bonds
Five per cent, bonds
Total coin bonds
Lawful inoin'v debt..
MaUirerl debt
lender notes.
vri iilnti'K of deposit
Fractional currency. ...
Coin certificates
Interest ..
ft.tn7.2rt.7no
..... 5M,M».aU0
$1,718.799.9(10
14,*i7H.OOO
18.44ft.lWi
3»«,()7.r«.W7
47,120.1)00
47,38!i,#WH
Bonds Issued to the Pacific. Railway
Corn panics. Interest payable in
lawful money, principal out
standing
Intercut accrued and not yet paid...
Interest paid by the United States..
Int Ht repaid by the transportation
of malls, etc
Balance of Interest paid by United
Stale?
JM,04r.400
33,351,111
ToUl debt »2,288,H()I.4*S
CMh In Tretrafy—
Coin $Ka,o«,7B2
Currency 10,(MM,Ml I
Special deposits held for the re
demption of certificates of deposit. 47,120,000
Total in Treasury
Debt less rash In Treaaory
Decrease during November
Decrease since June 80, 1874
S144f.HH8.D7H
SM.tti8.M2
1,015,587
SH,825,:jtW
MtO.044
IMI 5,852
The annual report of the Register of the
Treaaury saya the total tonnage of the coun
try exhibits an apparent Increase of 104,020
tons, 6,1185 tons in registered tonnage and
OH,8)1 tons in the enrolled and licensed ton
sag*
foreign hUllif«BM
A late letter from St. Petersburg states that
a lire recently occurred at Cronstadt, which
destroyed the dwellings of 10,000 persons.
The rhinoceros in the Zoological Garden at
London on the 'AMIi fatally gored two of the
keepers.
Madrid dispatches of the 25th say the
C'arlists had attacked San Marclal, one of the
outlying forts of I run, but were repulsed with
heavy loss. A later dispatch says the Carl
Ists were within 500 yards of Irun.
A London dispatch of the iitith says deputa
tions from tlfty two chambers of commerce
had waited upon Lord Derby to present objec
tions to the proposed reciprocity treaty be
tween the United Htates and Canada.
Large rdnforccmeuU for Cuba sailed from
Madrid on tbe 2Sth.
A circular letter from Archbishop Manning
has beer, lead in all the churches In Ills dio
cese, declaring that all persons who do not
accept the dogma of papal infallibility cease
to be Catholics.
Madrid telegrams of the 29th say the Re
publlcuu army now numbers 909,000, fully
farmed.
The editor of the Vaterkmd, a Berlin news
paper, has been sentenced to ten months'
imprisonment for asserting that Kullinann's
attempt on the life of Bismarck waa a sham
plot, conceived by the police.
It was officially announced at Madrid on
the 30th ult. that Gen. 8uballs, the Marquis
de Villadarco, and other prominent persons
had abandoned the cause of Don Carlos.
The French National Assembly reassem
bled on the 80th ult. M. Buffet was re-elected
President on the 1st by a vote of 348 to three
mattering. The Left did not vote. The re
cent letter of Count de Chambord had caused
serious divisions In the French Cabinet.
Grigua Land, according to a London dis
pute of the 1st, had been absorbed by the
British authorities, thus completing the ter
ritorial eonncetlou between Cape Colony and
Natal.
A Hendaye dispatch of the 1st says tbe Car
Hals bad laid siege to Berga.
The steamer La Plata, chartered to repair
the telegraph cable, foundered off Ushant on
the 2ttth ult. Sixty persons were drowned.
Fourteen persons were rescued by a Glasgow
Hteniner ufter floating for about two hours.
Among the lost were the Captain and all
the offlccru, and Mr. Rickets, the chief elec
trician.
Di. Kenealy, the counsel of the Tichborne
claimant, has been dismissed from the British
|ar.
A London dispatch of the 8d s*ys advices
]fetd juatbw# received Iron tins leld Coast
that the British authorities there had ordered
that slavery be abolished in Ashantse.
The Ea.st.
AsHgbt stKxk of earth (j«ske was Celt at
"Newburvporl, Mass., on the 34th. The direc
tion of the vibration was from west to east.
The New York Graphic, of a recent date an
nounces that tbe New York Central and Lake
Shore Railroads had in contemplation the
formation of a Joint company with a view to
continuing the two extra tracks (about com
pleted between Albany and Buffalo) on to
Chicago—the two additional tracks to be ex
clusively for freight.
It seems that the hoax published in the
New York IfrraUl a few weeks ago, glring a
detailed account of tbe pretended escape
from Central Park of a large number of anl
mills itfid the killing and maiming by them
number of persons, has caused the
one man—Henry A. Martin, of Plain
wbo became so excited over the
the horrible story that he was taken
ska and MibM-fjuently died.
of a a
f«' rimi
The 'longshoremen on the dock* in New
York city were all on
a
strike on the 27th.
A terrible condition of affairs is reported
as recently existing Ir. the Reran
ton CPa.j
coal regions. A large number of men were
unemployed, and riots were of almost daily
occurrence, and the few men engaged in the
mines were compelled to goto and from their
work armwith rifles. Murders were fre
quent, and theft* and assaults were of hourly
occurrence.
The body of an infant reported to have
been stolen from the bedside of its mother in
Freemansburg, Pa., on tbe night of the 20th
lias been found In the river at that plac-. and
Mrs. Goss, the mother, has been arrested,
charged with having thrown the ctilld iuto
the water.
In Hamilton County, N. Y., recently, a car
jentcr named Ellas Williams, engsged in
erecting a building, got into a quarrel with
an employe of his named George Smith, while
both men were drunk. In the course of tbe
struggle Williams threw Smith over a wooden
saw-horse and sawed off his head, severing It
entirely from the body. Williams soon after
ward cut his own throat.
A woman in New York city, named Janesch,
has been held to await the action of the Grand
Jury on the charge of having deliberately
placed her little child Carrie on a hot stove
and holding her there nntil she was fatally
burned,
The New York Etminff Po*i snrs, authorlta
tlvely, that James Russell Lowell has been
offered, and has declined, the Russian mis
sion.
Several Italian miners engaged In a riot
near Bboustown, Pa., on the 20th, attacking
houses and driving women and children
therefrom. They were repelled by a small
body of citizens, und were subsequently at
tacked by a larger force, and after fighting for
nearly an hour were compelled to yield, and
the rioters promised to leave the place ut
once. Four of their number were kiied and
several severely wounded. None of the citi
zens were injured.
Mayor Haverneyer, of New York, died of
apoplexy on the 30th ult. Alderman Vance
took the oath of office of Mayor on the after
noon of the same day.
Judge Barrett, In the Court of Oyer and Ter
miner, N. Y., granted a writ of hnbean cor/m* for
Tweed on the 80tli ult., returnable In the Su
preme Court on the Jd, for the arguing of the
question of the jurisdiction of the court con
demning him.
The New Hampshire Republican State Con
vention for the nomination «f candidates for
Governor and Railroad Commissioner is to
In: held at Concord on the 12th of January.
The National Board of Underwriters, ut a
meeting In New York on the 1st, adopted a
resolution in favor of the resumption of Insur
ance business In Chicago.
The New Hampshire Prohibition State Con
vention met at Concord on the 2d and nomi
nated Nathaniel White, of Concord, for Gov
ernor David lleald, of Milford, for Railroad
Commissioner, and the following for Con
gress: First District, the Rev. A. C.
Hardy Second District, J. M. Fletch
er Third District, Edward H. Weston.
The resolutions adopted affirm that
the traffic in intoxicating drinks Is a wrong of
such magnitude that its suppression is itn
perutively demanded by both National and
State legislation, enforced by vigilant Execu
tives favor a speedy return to specie, pay
ment urge upon the friends of prohibition
to avoid alliance or coalition with
either of tlto old political parties, and
heartily honor the noble Christian women
who have made a crusade against the terrible
trade which Is carrying constant grief and
shame to their households."
The cose of the Rev. John 8. Glendcnnlug
before the Jersey City Presbytery was con
cluded on the 2d, resulting in a verdict of
acquittal on ail the caunts.
The Tweed halna* lorjmn ease came up be
fore Judge Barrett, Ngw York city, on the 2d,
and'after argument was dismissed and the
prisoner was remanded to prison.
The New England Nail Manufacturers1 As
sociation have reduced the price of ten-penny
nails from $4.00 to #3.75 per keg, with ilfteeu
cents discount to the trade.
The entire business portion of the village of
Wilton, N. II., was destroyed by Are on the
2d, the loss aggregating about $100,000.
The banking tlria of Henry Clews A Co.,
York, has been adjudged bankrupt.
West and South.
The Indiana Supreme Court has decided
that colored children are not entitled to the
public school benetlts of the State, because
the State Constitution provides that only the
children of "citizens" are entitled to those ben
ell ts, and that colored people, not havlug been
citizens" when the State Constitution was
adopted, the Fourteenth Amendment of the
National Constitution, subsequently adopted,
does not supersede this provision of the State
Constitution.
A convention or meeting composed of the
leading men of the Independent party of In
diana and a number of delegates from other
States met at Indlamt]olls on the 25th. A dec
laralion of principles was adopted—favoring
a new political organization and advocating
the withdrawal from circulation of all Nation
al and State bank notes and the issuing of
paper money by the Government directly to
the people, such money to tie a legal tender
for public and private debts, Including duties
on lm|orU. A National Executive Committee
was ap|Hinted.
In the Indiana State Grange on the 25th a
resolution was adopted declaring "that the
State Grunge, in council assembled, has no
sympathy with any past, present, or future
attempt that may be made by any political
purty or political aspirant to absorb a little
reflected warmth, decency, or support by
persistently calling and publishing their
meetings at the same time and place of ours,
and that a decent respect for our Order re
quires thut such attempts be suitably rebuked
by publishing this
resolution."
•5
At the recent meeting of the General Grand
Chapter ot Royal Arch Masons at Nashville,
Tenn„ the following-named officers were in
stalled for the ensuing year: John Frizzell,
of Tennessee, Deputy General Grand High
Priest R. F. Bow«r Low, of Louisiana, Grand
King John McClelland, of Massachusetts.
Grand Treasurer C. G. Fox. of New York,
General Grand 8e*retary Henry Bostwick.
General Grand Royal Arch Captain.
At a recent meeting in Indianapolis of the
Western Bureau of Railway Commissioners
it wa* decided to advance the rates on all
classes of freight from Western points five
cents per hundred pounds.
The majority against the new Constitution
in Michigan at the recent election was 84,702
against woman's suffrage, 95,877.
The official returns from the Dakota elec
tion tor Delegate to Congress are as follows:
Kidder (Rep), 4,51)7 Armstrong (Dem.),2,l8!'.
Kidder's majority, 2,408.
Nineteen citizens of Lafourche Parish, La.,
have been arrested on warrants issued by
the otted States Commissioners, charging
them with the violation of the Enforcement
act.
At its recent session tbe Indiana State
Grange made an appropriation of $1,000 for the
relief of the Nebraska sufferers, and a com
mittee was directed to mature a plan for rais
ing additional funds by calling on subordinate
Granges for contributions. Tbe Secretary re
ported 409 Granges lu the 8tate paying
dues, with K5,141 members. There is a bal
ance of $14,800.r7 in the treasury.
Jones, of Kentucky, elected Clerk of the
State Court of Apjx'ais, but declared ineligi
ble because of his having accepted a chal
lenge to fight a duel, will take his case to tt.e
court of which he was elected Clerk. The
ground of his suit is that the Returning
Board had no authority to Inquire into the
evidence.
The official count of the vote of Missouri
gives Hardin, Democrat, for Governor, 37,
402 majority. The vote on the Constitution*!
Convention, with three counties to hear from,
gives 1,108 majority for a convention.
The King of the Sandwich Islands arrived
at San Francisco on the 28th, en route fir
Washington.
The Board of Managers of the National Tem
perance Society have resolved to hold a Na
tional Temperance Convention at some point
in the West the coming year.
The boy in the family of F. W. Peyton, at
Barboursvllle, W. Va., who was supposed to
have been the missing Charlie Ross, wa
found, upon Investigation, to have escaped
from a neighboring poor-house.
Later accounts from Tuscumbia, Ala., plac
the number of lives lost by the tornado in
that place at sixty, and the value of proper!
destroyed at $500,000. About sixty persons
were also wounded. Four hundred peoplt
are houseless and great destitution prevails.
Tuscumbia Is a town of about 1,500 Inhabit
ants, situated on the Memphis A Charleston
Railroad, seventy Ave miles west of Huntr
vllle and two miles from the Tennessee River.
Gov. Garland, of Arkansas, in a dispatch of
the 80th ult., in reply to a telegram from lib
counsel In Washington, says: "I am not
concentrating troops to defy the President o
Congress, as has been charged nor for anj
other purpose. I am not concentrating
troops nt all, there being peace and quiet
throughout tbe State."
William O. Key, cousin of Frank Key.
author of the 'Star Spangled Banner," cois
inlttcd suicide at the Keiinert House, Balti
more, a few nights ago. Deceased has been
for some time past in the hotel business.
Walter 8train, of Buffalo, N. Y., arrived at
Des Moines, Iowa, on the 2Hth ult., from the
Black flllls, where he had been prospecting
since August. He made a thorough prospect
and reports some pocket" gold found, but
not enough to pay. He declare! that there Is
not a shadow of truth in the statements made
as to the discoveries of gold In that country.
Two of his comrades were shot by the Indi
ans, of whom the hills are full.
The Ohio Legislature met in adjourned
session at Columbus on the 1st. The annual
message of Gov. Allen was read in each
house. The total local lndebttdness of the
State is $21,HKO,007.8lS reimbursable debt,
$7,«H8,2ar.:iO total, •2!t,H74,212.W. The irre
ducible debt is $4,122,191.80. The aggregate
debts in Ohio, State, local and trust fund, $£i,
W97,204.52. The taxes levied in 1873, collectable
In 1874, aggregate $2ti,474,4.W. The taxes levied
In 1874, collectable in 1875, aggregate $27,014,
729. The taxable valuation in Ohio, as shown
by the grand duplicate of 1874,1s: Real es
tate in cities, towns and villages, $354,H49,
107 real estate not In cities, towns and vil
lages, $007,408,537 personal property, $528,
121,5hh. Totul, #1,.580,379,3^, which Is au in
crease over the grand duplicate of 1873 of
$13,104,805.
The newly-elected city officials of New Or
leans were Installed on the 30th ult.
The American Cheap Transportation Con
vention met at Richmond, Va., on the 1st.
About seventy-tlve delegates were present,
the Hon. Josiah Quincy, of Massachusetts,
presiding. A report ou transportation was
road by F. B. Thurber, of New York, in which
he argued in favor of trans-continental rail
roads in preference to canals. Committees
were appointed.
The first annual session of the Alabama
State Grange met at Montgomery on tbe 2d,
W. H. Chambers, W. M., presiding. One
hundred delegates were present.
The returns fiom the Michigan State elec
tion show the vote for State Treasurer to be
as follows: William B. McCrecry, Republi
can, 110,4811 Sterling, Democrat, 08,049 Pro
hibition and Reform candidates, 4,119 mak
ing MeCreerj's majority over all 8,ttl8. The
remainder of the Republican State ticket will
show about 7,000 majority.
Wilbur P. Storey, of the Chicago Time*,
was married on the 2d to Mrs. Eureka C.
Pearson.
The managers of most of the Western rail
roads held a meeting In Chicago on the 2d
and resolved to entirely abolish the free-pass
system from and after Jan. 1, 1875.
The Virginia Legislature met on the 2d.
The Governor's annual message was read.
The American Association of Short-Horn
Breeders met in annual convention at Spring
field, III., on the 2d.
A recent Montgomery (Ala.) dispatch re
ports a meeting of colored men, representing
twenty cotton counties of Alabama, to con
coct measures for a wholesale emigration to
States where the colored men are in the ma
jority. The emigration feeling is represented
as very strong.
—The Methodint says that the number
of ministers
of that denomination who
have in the last thirty years left the pas
toral work and gone over to other
churches iH very considerable, and they
have, gone in nearly all directions. Some
have become Episcopalians, some Bap
tists, some Congregationalists, souie
Unitarians, and occasionally one has
been metamorphosed into a Swedenbor
gian.
Report of Postmaster-fieneral Jewell.
Washington. NOV. 29.
THE report of the Postmaster-General is
completed.
The revenues for the year ending June 30,
1874, wcr« *24,59*5,568, and the expenditures
$82,i2fi,414. 'Hie estimated expenditure! for
the year ending June 30, l*7tt, arc £5*i,9»M,Oir4
total t^timated revenue, f-.»,148,15« leaving a
deficiency to be appropriated out of tbe gen
era! treasury of $7,*15,M78. These estimates
do not include appropriations for steamship
service and stamps, amounting to $2,098,500.
The use of the registered-letter system is stead
ily increasing. There has tM-en a marked gain
in tiie time of transporting through mails, an
average gain from New York to San Francisco
of five hours and thirty-two minutes, a gain
for mails to New Orleans of two hours and
fifty-seven minutes, and going north of one
hour and fifty mii.utes, and a perceptible gain
on all through routes in regularity and cer
tainty. The foreign mail system is in better
condition than ever before. The number of
postofflces in operation June 30, 1874, was
34,294 total number of appointments during
the year 9,428. The results of the exten
sions of the letter-carrier svstera are of the
most gratifying character. There has been a
gain of over :V per cent, in the amount of
fees received from money orders. There has
been only one erroneous payment in 59,^77
payments, and only 74 in all. The increase in
motley exchanges with Great BiitalB
and
Switzerland has been very marked.
NKWBJ'AI'P.K l-OSTAO*.
By an act of Congress approved June 23,
1874, it la required that on and after the 1st of
January, 1875, postage on newspapers and
periodical publications mailed from a known
office of publication or news agency, and ad
dressed to regular subscribers or newsagents,
shall be charged at the rate of two cent* [er
pound if issued weekly or oftener and at
three cents per pound if issued less frequent
ly than once a week. The act provide- that
matter shall be weighed in bulk and prepaid
with adhesive stamps to be especially devised
for the purpose. The manner of applying
stamps is left discretionary with the depart
ment, and a system, which it is hoped will
work satisfactorily, has been devised for
carrying the law into effect. The stamps are
now in course of preparation, and will be
ready at the time appointed for their use.
It is expected that the revenues of the de
partment from postage on printed matter
will be increased by the enforcement of this
act, notwithstanding that rates are cheaper
than before, as now postage will be prepaid,
while heretofore much loss has been occa
sioned to the department on account of the.
non-collection of postage at the point of
delivery.
THE MONYT-ORDER STSTKM.
The money-order business of this
depart­
ment appears to be rapidly growing in pub
lie favor and is undoubtedly a very great
accommodation to a large number of persons
who are not within reach of banking facilities
or who are unaccustomed to the use of them.
Yet I see no reason why this branch of
service should not be made self-sustaining.
The apparent profits of the money-order
system during the last year are about
£105,000, while certain expenses to the
amount of $182,000 for clerk hire and station
ery in the Postofficc Department, Auditor's
office, and for money-order clerks in the
postofficc are not charged to the money
order business but are paid out of appropria
tions so that, while the money-order system
appears to yield a revenue of #105,000, there
is, in fact, a deficit of *70,000. I suggest,
therefore, that the fees of money-orders be
increased in accordance with the views of the
Superintendent, submitted herewith (see ap
pendix), or that the money-order
system shall,
like any other business, be made to defray all
its own expenses.
TRANSPORTATION OF MAII.S.
The number and length of mail routes in
the United States require an expenditure for
transportation which dwarfs into insignifi
cance tiie cost of similar service in other
countries. For the year ending June 30, 1876,
it is estimated that this item alone will exceed
$10,XX),000. The portion to be paid to rail
roads will amount to more than $8,000,000.
Opinions have differed widely as to the best
method of determining the rightful rates of
compensation to be paid to the railroads for
services rendered to this department.
Heretofore their pay has been based on the
weight of mails, with an additional allowance
on certain throughfarus for providing postal
cars. At present tin matter is in a very un
satisfactory condition, and some equitable
mode of adjustment should be at once devised
and sanctioned by law. Some of the roads
have represented to the department that the
carrying of the mails was little or no object
to them, because the express companies
were willing to pay much more for the ac
commodation furnished than the department
would allow. On the other hand, represent
atives of the leading express companies
have contended that the act which look
effect July 1, 1*74, permitting the trans
mission by mail of packages of merchandise
weighing not over four pounds at the rate
of one cent for each two ounces is taking
away the most profitable part of their busi
ness, and will soon render them unable to
meet the heavy rentals demanded by the
roads. Thus is presented a curious anomaly,
the roads claiming that the Government does
not pay as much as the express companies
are reodj to pay, and the express companies
claiming, on the other hand, that the law is
effecting such a diminution of their revenues
that they are unable to accede to the demands
of the roids. I find no disposition on the
part of any railroad or transportation com
pany to deal otherwise with the department,
than in a spirit of fairness and justice. I
trust Congress will adopt some equitable
plan of adjustment which will not be burden
some to the Government, and which will be
satisfactory to the companies. The act of
March 3, 1873, readjusting the pay of
railroads on the basis of the weight of the
mails carried, added much more largely than
was anticipated to the expense of the depart
ment. The appropriation for that purpose
having become exhausted, I have declined to
make further payments. I would suggest
that the time has come when a resolute effort
should be made to determine how far the
Postotllce Department can properly go in its
efforts to accommodate the public without
trespassing unwarrantably upon the sphere
of private enterprise. There must tie a limit
to govcrmental interference, and happily it
better Milts tbe genius of the American peo
ple to help themselves than to depend on the
State.
THE FUNCTIONS OF TUP. DKI'VKTMKNT.
To communicate intelligence and dissemi
nate information are primary functions of this
department. Any divergence from the legiti
mate sphere of iis operation tends to disturb
the first rule, that in the ordinary branches of
life the recipient of a benefit is the proper
party to pay for it, since there Is no escape
from the universal law that every service
must in some way be paid for by some one.
Moreover in a country of vast extent like
this, where most of the operations of the de
partment are curried on remote from the con
trolling center, the disposition to engage in
internal enterprises more or less foreign to
the theory or the system will tend to embar
rassni"tit« whereby expedition would be
difficult. For years the franking privilege
was an Incubus ou the department and uu
obstacle to efficient postal reform. Its aboli
tion, for which we are largely indebted to
the resolution and wisdomOJ my predecessor,
opens the way for other measures, which
have vet to be inaugurated and pressed to a
successful issue before the department can be
come self-sustuining. While I do not flatter
myself that I shall le able to accomplish this
niost desirable eud during the short period of
my service, I propose to keep it Bteadily in
view and to direct my best efforts toward its
attain aient.
For tbe first time in the course of a life de
voted actively to business I find myseif in
charge of an establishment the expenditures
of which largely excced its receipts—a state
of affairs which strikes with great force a
mind more or less disciplined by that close
inspection of accounts enforced in mercan
tile pursuits. In ordinary affairs there Is but
one eud to this cuiidition of affairs —bank
ruptcy. The deficiency of this department
has vailed of late years from 15 to 20 percent
while from the best data at my command I
have been compelled to submit estimates
for the year ending June 30. 187t*, which will
show an expected excels of the expenditures
over receipt* of nearly $S,000,000, or about 25
percent, of the entire revenue of the depart
ment. How far tbe Ameiican people will be
willing to go in this direction remains to be
I seen. The difficulties in the way of adopting
and enforcing a policy of economy which,
while pronerlv guarding the revenues of the
department, shall also afford to the new and
growing patrons ot our country the mail facili
ties to which the enterpri.-e of the people en
title them, are few or small, but in some wav
they can and must be surmounted. 1 deem it
suitable to say here that I propose to guard
with strict vigilance the expenditures of this
department, sanctioning no outlay which can
be avoided without detriment to the service,
and so to conduct its affairs generally that jhe
interests of the public shall be paramount to
those of any individual, corporation or party.
Very napeettally, your obedient servant,
MARSHALL JEWKIX,
Postmaster-General.
Postal-Car Service.
WASHINGTON, NOV. 87.
George 8. Bancs, Superintendent of the
Railway Postal Service, has completed his
annual report. From this report it appears
that, at the close of the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1874, there were in operation fifty
nine lines of railway postoftlcecars, extending
over 14,860 miles of railroad, ou which was
performed 34,t25 miles of service daily and
12,747,025 miles of service annually, by 752
railway postofficc clerks. These clerks are
classified as follows: 283 head clerks,
370 clerks, and ninety assistant clerks. By
the estabiishmentof new lines of IIeoadthe
postal facilities have been greatly increased.
During tiie threatened refus .l of the til
roads to carry the mails an offer of the Bal
timore & Ohio was accepted by the depart
ment. This gave daily service between Cin
cinnati, Ohio, and Chicago, 111., 310 miles.
This completes a through line between Wash
ington and Chicago, and forms a connection
between tiie roads centering at Cincinnati, In
dianapolis and Chicago.
Of the present condition
of the railway post
office service Mr. Bangs says: "The railway
postofficc cars are now in operation on most
of the most important connecting and trunk
lines of railroad, giving the most direct and
available transit to the mailt# between the
office of origin and destination^and forming
nearly a perfect connection between the
various railroads upon which service is per
formed by route agents.
"The, Pennsylvania Railroad system, per
haps the most important and extended in the
country for mail transportation, is now used
to a great extent in the forwarding of through
und direct mails but, owing to the poor
postal facilities at present furnished by that
road, it cannot lie utilized to any great ex
tent in the distribution of mails In transit.
As this company has expressed its willing
ness to grant improved accommodations the
benefit to be derived would fully warrant the
department In the acceptance of the same.
The necessity*"of this addition to the postal
car lines can best be judged by the follow,
ing statement of the bulk of mails passing
between the East and West: New York
city originates fifty-five to sixty tons of
mail matter daily, as shown by their official
statement. Forty-live to fifty tons of this is
forwarded oil the trunk lines leading to the
West and Southwest. Three of these lines—
the Pennsylvania Kailroad, New York fc Eric
Railroad, and New York Central Ac Hudson
River Railroad—carry daily over their whole
length an average of 03,000 pounds of mail,
and as the bulk of this mail is deposited in
the offices at the latest hour possible to make
the trains, or arrives on connecting trains, it
must be distributed in transit, taxing the
present accommodations to the utmost, es
pecially as the Erie Railroad is the only one
upon which the department have such ac
commodations as are required. The propriety
of establishing a fast arid exclusive mail-train
between New York and Chicago lias been dis
cussed for some time and there appears to be
a growing necessity for the same, this train
to be under the control of the department so
far as it is necessary for the purposes de
signed, and to run the distance in about
twenty-four hours. It is conceded by rail
road officials that this can be done. The im
portance of a line like this cannot be over
estimated. It would reduce the actual
time of the mail between the East and
W est from twelve to twenty-four hours, as it
would necessarily be established upon one
or more of tin trunk lines having an ex
tended system of connections. Its benefits
would be in no wise confined, but extended
to all parts of the country alike. It would
also, if thin line be established, be practicable
to reduce to one line daily, beside this through
line, the service upon the three trunk lines
to the West. The reduction would compen
sate for all the additional expense incurred by
the fast mail train, especially as, by the opera
tion of the law governing mail transportation,
the more mail concentrated upon a single
line of railway the less is tin-aggregate cost
of transportation per pouad or ton per mile."
With reference to the complaints of some
railroads that the compensation is inadequate,
Mr. Bangs thinks it advisable to recommend
legislation placing the compensation to rail
roads on the basis of weight alone.
With regard to the extra cost of the railway
postal service the Superintendent thinks
erroneous opinions obtai.i.und that tbe amount
($1,092,020) is more apparent than real, owing
to the fact that many minor distributing
offices and a large amount of clerk hire along
the railroad routes and at the termini, not
now required, would be necessary in the ab
sence of the present system. The superin
tendeiicy would be necessary under any sys
tem, as the distribution and dispatch of mails
would require the same general supervision
as now to secure the best possible results.
Not the least consideration iu favor of the
railway postolfice is the avoidance of delays
resulting from any other system than the dis
tribution of mails in transit.
Report of the
Secretary
rlor on
of the lute*
Indian
Affairs.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 97.
Hie following are the main point* of
the annual report of the Secretary of the
Interior to the President on the Indian
question. The report bears date Oct. 31,
1874:
The operations of the Indian Bureau dur
ing the past year are highly gratifying. They
furnish conclusive evidence of the Justice,
wisdom and practicability of the policy in
augurated by tbe present Administration.
The success of this policy Is no longer a prob
lem. If steadily pursued, we shall soon see
all roving tribes located upon reservations.
We may reasonably exjwet occasional dis
turbances in the future caused by individuals,
or by disorderly bodies of Indians, but with a
judicious and efficient execution of the pres.
ent mode of treatment It is not believed that
we shall see another general, or even serious,
Indian war.
The present method of dealing with the
Indian race aims to induce, and when neces
sary to compel, the roaming tribes to accept
reservations as rapidly as possible. On such
reservations they are instructed in agricul
ture and iu other'pursuits Incident to civiliza
tion, and with the aid of our Christian organ
izations their intellectual, mori] and relig
ious culture Is advanced us rapidly as practi
cable. When a tritn refuses to accept a res
ervation and continues to violate the laws of
civilization, it is treated with all needful
severity, and thus made to appreciate the ad
vantages of accepting the kind and humane
treatment which the Government suiely ex
tends to such as are disposed to peace. By the
judicious exercise of po*er and persuasion It is
the altn of the Government to deal kindly and
justly with this unfortunate race and to make
them appreciate, as sp edily as possible, the
real motives and purposes of the Government
The execution of this policy ii necessarily
attended with difficulties wnleb cannot at
once be entirely overcome. I am happy in
being aide to say that tin- earnest, ncth e and
cordial co-operation of severul Christian or
ganizations to which the right of nominating
agents has beep assigned, and upon whose
nominations alone such agents are appointed,
is constantly improving this class of employes,
and thus we are, each year, to some cxteut,
S V
rW*r WSMSwr
advancing the service bv obtainine.
more expcriencMl and intelligent
greater capacitv for their eecuUr
their moral and religiou* work.
States, and entitled to all the
Ur
Tbe Indian population of the raited
since the first occupation of our tAii
white men, has been compelled to rc,^
the white population bus advanced
natural result has been the creati
feeling among Indians that theVhawl.«ff'f
great injustice at our hand Tl„ v i
strong local attachments, and adherV
tenacity to the home of their fathers
once occupied without dispute va«-t re
of country which have been
them. Under no circumstances can -t iJ
posed that they will accept th,
change in their modes of life and in th
management by the Government wt,irh
now being effected without complaint
resistance, which may occasionally
rw„,
the employment of force nor can it
posed that time is not required for them**
plishrncnt of such change.
To aid in prosecuting the work of Ind
civilization I recommend the extension 7
the Homestead laws to Indians, with
ert'J
modifications hereafter to be more fuir.
stated. These laws at present apply to ew
zens of the United States only, and tb
provisions cannot be enjoyed except by thi
small portion of the Indian race who ai
legally entitled to the privileges of citizen
ship.
The department has arrived at the a,,.
elusion that when an Indian tribe i« dissolv'-n
and its tribal relations ended, with the
c,n
sent of the United States, either bv treaty''
legislative enactment, the members of au4
tribe become ip*o fticto citizens of the
Unit,
privileges a:'.?
immunities belonging to other citizens.
The department lias also decided that ari
Indian eanuot voluntarily dissolve his relt.
tion with his tribe, and thereby become
citizen of the United States that before cit1
zenship can be created the tribal relati-x
must be dissolved by the tribe a* ,i tri) and
tliat, too, with the consent of the General
Government, as shown by treaty or act of
Congress.
Reviewing these opinions, I feel assured of
their correctness. It was, iu niv judgment,
inconsistent with sound law, as
"well «s with
public policy, to permit an individual Indian
by voluntarily withdrawing from his tribe, to
become a citizen without some act of the
Government recognizing his citizenship.
Under these circumstances, and in view of
the importance of this subject, I deem it
proper to invite tbe attention of Congresa to
the recommendation of the Commissioner of
the General Land Office in favor of legislation
in behalf of Indians who desire to withdraw
from their former associations, become citi
zens of the United States, and avail them
selves of the benefit of the Homestead law*.
An extension to the Indians of the benefit*
of the Homestead laws, under the safeguards
mentioned, and such others as the wisdom of
Congress may suggest, will greatly facilitate
the. work of their civilization.
The time has arrived when some general
law regulating Indian citizenship is, in uj
judgment, indispensable. Occasionally trettr
stipulations with Indian tribes are expirtojj,
among w hom is found a greater or lees de.
gree of civilization. This compels the de
partment to determine the ftatus of such
Indians in regard to citizenship. There are
also many who desire to separate from their
tribes, adopt the habits and customs of civ
ilized life, and become citizens.
THE BI.ACK HILI-FI.
The military reconnoissanee nf the BlMk
Hills country was regarded by the Indians tt
a violation of their treaty, and produced a tur
bulent feeling among them. Its objects, how
ever, were peacefully accomplished. Extrav
agant statements "concerning the mineril
wealth of the country created great excite
ment among the people, and exploring par
ties were organized for the purpose of pr»
pecting the country. Subsequent informa
tion establishes the fact that no evidence of
valuable mineral deposits was furnished, and
that the lands in that region are undesirable
for cultivation and settlement by white men.
Notwithstanding this, organized parties have
attempted to explore it, and have been at
tacked and repulsed by the Indians. It
apprehended that efforts will be made to
induce legislation for the extinguisliinentof
the Indian title to the Black Hills country
and to tiring the land into market. It is
hoped that such efforts will be without suc
cess, because of the general unfitness of the
country for settlement, and because any *t
tempt to dispossess tbe Indians at present of
a region of country upon which they located
for security against the encroachments of the
white man would meet with violent and de
termined resistance.
THE MARKETS.
HEW YORK, Dec. 8. ldW.
BEEF CATTLE $10.00 ^$13^9
HOGS—Dr«M«d 8.75 W»
Live #.87'^ 7.87)4
8IIEEP—Live 4.T5 6.90
COTTON'—Middling. U%2 -MX
FLOUR—Good to choice 5.0") 5.75
WHEAT—No. -i Chicago I.0» & 1.10
CORN—Western MixM 92 & -WJt
OATS -Western Mixed
itV K .94 & .91
HAKLEY—Western........ l.M
rol'K- New Mess............... S0.60 @21.00
LAUD—Prime Steam,. *.'..*.... -lWf
CHEESE &*© lHt
WOOL—Domestic Fleece XB
CHICAGO.
BEEVES—Choice $6.60 |6J0
Good 4.50 5.00
Medium 4.00 4.80
Butchers' Stock 2.50 4.S6
Stock Cattle S.fiO 'i-7i
HO(*S—Live—(iood to Choice.. ®.K 7.8&
SHE K P- Good to Choice 3.75 4.S6
Bl'TTEK —Choice Yellow 83 J®
EMiS—Fresh 85 3d
CHEESE-New York Factory.. .15 .15^4
Western Factory... .14 .14'/4
FLOUR—While Whiter Extra.. 5.0 «.W
Spring Extra ... 4.12'4© 5.60
GEAIK-Wheat-Spring,Ho. 8.
JO%© -Wt
Corn—No. 2... 72 -72H
Oats—No. 2 .Wt
Kye-No. 8 .8554
Barley—No. l.M 1-®
PORK-Mess, New 190(0 19.76
LARD IS -18H
WOOL—Tub-washed 45 .W
Fleece, washed 40 .47
Fleece, unwaihed 27
LUMBER-First Clca*. 60.00 5sU»
Second Clear 46.00 48.00
Common Boards 11.00 12.00
Fencing 11.00 & iss.00
A" Shingles 8.00 ttJS
Lath 2.00 &K
CINCINNATI.
FLOUR—Family, New $5.00 *5.80
WHEAT-Red 1.08 1.M
C'OKN—New ... .69 .»
OATS .57 a
RYE 1.07 1-08
BARLEY—No. 1.80 1.36
PORK-Mesa.. 90.26 2uJ»
LARD 18H© .MVS
ST. LOUIS.
BEEF CATTLE—Fair to choice $4.50 3 »M»
HOtiS- Live 7.25 7.76
FLOUR—Fall XX 4.26 4J0
Wll EAT-No. 2 Red Winter.... 1.074© 1-08
COKN -No. 2 New 66
OATS -No. 2 544© .P6
KYE No. 2 90
BARLEY—No.$ 1.30 1.86
PORK -Mess 19.50 tJ.Wi
LARD 184© .»*
MILWAUKEE.
FLOUR—Spring XX $6.26 O $6.80
WHEAT—Spring No. 1 90 .M
No.»...., 84© MU
CORN-No. 2 734©
OATS—No. 2 54 -66
RYE-No. 1 974©
BARLEY-No. 2 l.SH 1J6
CLEVELAND.
WHEAT-No. 1 Red $1,104® $1-1H
No 2 Red IM S 1J»
CORN-New
l.
OATS—No. 1 State
DETROIT.
WN EAT—Extra.
CORN.
OATS
.7*4© .W
$1,174® $1
.744© W
TOLEDO.
WHEAT-Amber Michigan $1.09 $1
No. 2 Red 1.084©
CORN—Mixed, New
OATS—No. 1
I 9
.684©
.644© .16
BUFFALO
BEEF CATTLE
HOGS—LlTt
SHEEP—Live
$4.80 &PIM
6.26 71$
3 7 5 5
EAST LIBERTY
CATTLE—Best faff)
Median 4 so
HOGS-Yorkera s.^S
Philadelphia...,,.. (j.iv)
SHEEP- Hest 4.75
Mediaa 4 0u