Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-12

Office is in the War Department., and occupie,
rooms which are not fire. proof They are also
needed, and have been demanded by that De.
partment, and should be surrendered.
The General Land Office remains in the
Treasury building, notwithstanding the Sec.
rotary OF the Treasury requires the rooms, and
mas made q pressing application for them.
These rooms are too small, and too limited
In number. The Commissioner has been com
PEELED, in several instances, to crowd eight or
nine clerks, besides the desks, paper-csses,
and ordinary furniture, into q single room,
where more than two clerks cannot conve
niently be accommodated. In consequence OF
this, and the want of proper ventilation, the
health Of the clerks is impaired, and their
ability to labor much diminished. The hies
and papers have increased so rapidly that, Tor
want Of space many cases of valuable papers
are placed in the passages, where there Is not
that security from fire which is requisite
The Pension Office is in q better situation,
but it occupies inconvenient and uncomfort-
able quarters belonging to the War Depart
ment.
The Indian and Land Bureaus must be re-
moved and the only question appears to be,
whether the west wing of the Patent Office
building shall be fitted up for the temporary
accommod alton of these bureaus, or they be
placed in rented buildings, not ire-proof. thus
exposing to imminent peril papers of immense
value to the General Government, the States,
and private individuals.
This building may be 30 finished within a
year; and, until a suitable structure can be
erected for this Department, it will not be re-
CURED by the Patent Office Some opposition
has been made heretofore to a somewhat SINH
lar proposition; but this, it is presumed, was
based on the erroneous suppOsition that the
cost Of the entire structure had been betrayed
out of the patent fund.
The amount thus far expended and appro-
priated is 81, 307, $50; Of which 81 ,04s,750
has been paid out of the Treasury and only
S319 900 out Of the patent fund. Such being
the fact, there is no reason why portion Of it
should not be temporarily used. as proposed
until needed by the Patent Office. If this
should even somewhat incommode that Office,
1t would be of small moment in comparison
with the evils that might result from withhold
ing the use of 1t from the bureaus. Skillful
artisans are Of opinion that the necessary i'm
provemepts can be easily made without inter-
fering with or injuring the original design
Unless, therefore, Congress by express enact
ment otherwise determines, L intend to direct
the completion of the west wing so a, to ac-
cOmmodate these bureaus, and secure the
public archives.
Within a few years the Patent Office will
need the main building and the two wings for
its exclusive use. In the mean time a struc-
ture should be erected for this Department;
and as it consumes much time to complete
such building, sound policy should induce
its immediate commencement. Ono sufficiently
large and commodious, and entirely separated
from the other Departments, can be construct
ed in plain, substantial manner for $3.50 900;
and In the most approved style, with all the
modern improvements, for less than half a
million. Surely, at this time, there can be no
more proper or profitable application of the
public money. The considerations urging it
arc strong and apparent, and, it seems to me,
cannot fail to convince every one who reflects
upon the subject of its absolute necessity.
Applications are made at almost every ses-
sion of Congress for repairing the bridges
crossing the Potomac from Washington city.
Although in the aggregate large amount has
been expended on them, they are in a most
unsafe and insecure condition. Permanent
and substantial structures are required, and
ought to be erected. In the end it will prove
a saving to the Government, and in the mean
time conduce greatly to its interests and the
benefits of all who are in any wise connected
with this District
The plan adopted for improving and orna-
menting the public grounds should be Wig
OrOusly prosecuted. 1t will cOnduce to the
health, as well as greatly add to the beauty Of
the city
These, and other improvements that might
merely for the use and benefit Of the people
of the District. but minister to the pleasure,
comfort, and health Of every one who visits it,
This is the metropolis Of the Union and the
pride and ambition of its representatives
should induce them to make it worthy Of a
great nisiOn. In regard to all such objects
liberal policy should be pursued; at least, all
improvements should be made which the pub
lie service imperatively demands.
Col. Medary.-Col. Sam Medary, of the
Columbus (0hio) Statesman, is in Washing.
ton. He looks as hale as fifteen years ago,
when we first knew him on the stage at this
point. He is one of our invariable Fremont.
tories Of an important election rarely failing
to show himself to US in Washington, shortly
before the opening Of national contest. Few
men have fought more desperate political bat
ties, received more scars, or won more victo-
ries. 1t is not remarkable, therefore, tn at
though still in the prime of life, he passes for
one Of the veterans in the Democratic cause
Expected News -From private advices We
look for the arrival at Washington in about
fifteen days Of a delegation from Salt Lake
city, bringing State constitution for Utah,
10 which they will ask the admission of that
State into the Union
Admitted to Bail-It will be perceived in
our local columns that Judge Crawford to-day
released P. 7. Herbert, charged with killing
Thomas Heating, on bail for $40, 900, for hi.
appearance at the next term of the criminal
csurt.
The Current Operations Of the Treasury
Dspartment.-On Saturday, the 10Th of May
there were of Treasury warrants entered OF
the books Of the Department
For the redemption of st cks.... S2l, 27I 9!
For the Treasury Department. 4,SOI 4;
For the Interior Department..... 1903 OF
War warrants received and en-
tered. ...... .................. 65,Oo3 7!
FROM miscellaneous sources. 5000 s!
FROM Customs. ................ 9,307 3:
On account Of the Eavy...,,,.. 48,753 81