The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-12-23

leaves, and eat off the husk half way
down the ear, and in some instances
destroyed it entirely by eating the silk.
Yet under these disadvantages the far
mers of Dakota Co. have succeeded in
raising the lsrgest crop on record
Three cheers for Nebraska! And three
times three for Dakota, the banner coua-
ty!
Send along the accounts ofyour crops
and let the people East see what our
soil is made Of.
Report Of the Secretary Of the Navy.
The Home Squadron, under the flag of
Capt. Paulding, has consisted of the
frigates Wabash and Roanoke, and the
sloops -of-war Saratoga and Cyane, with
the war steamers Susquehanna and Full
ton. A large force, both in the Allan.
tic and Pacific, has been kept near Cen
trail America, on account Of the unsa-
tisfactory state of affairs in that part of
the world. The act of the commander
of the Roanoke in bringing back the
remnants of Walkers army from AS
pinwall, without order, is justified by
the Secretary on the score of its being
can act of humanity" An appropria-
ton is recommended to pay for their
clothing, medicine, &C., while on ship
board, amounting to 1886 16. The
Saratoga is now at Aspinwall, and will
soon be relieved by the Susquehanna.
The Fulton and Susquehanna have both
been ordered to Central America to
prevent the landing of American filli-
busters. eff any unlawful expedition
from the United States," says the Sec
retary "against Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
or Mexico shall succeed in effecting
landing, it shall be because it has been
able to elude the v GLANCE Of the squad
rom"
The force in the Pacific, under the
command of Captain Mervine. has con-
sisted Of the frigate Independence, the
sloops st. Marys, John Adams. and De-
catur, and the war-steamer Massachu-
setts.
Though the Secretary approves the
action of Commander Davis, in taking
off the remnant Of Walkers army, he
condemns the action of that officer in
interfering in the matter of the Grana-
da, and returning her to the Nicaraguan
authorities. The Secretary recon-
mends that the Government should pay
the Pacific Railroad for the cost Of
transporting Walkers men across the
Isthmus, after their capitulatiou, though
the Railroad Company exonerates Capt.
Mervin from any personal responsible
ty. The amount Of the bill is $6,4
The Mediterranean Squadron, under
the command of Capt. Breese, has con-
sisted of the frigate Congress, the
steamer Susquehauna, and the sloop
Constitution.
The Brazil squadron has consisted
of the frigate s. Lawrence, and the
sloops Falmouth aud Germantown, un-
der the flag of Captain French Forrest.
Ou the coast of Africa we have had a
large force under the flag of Capt.
Crabbe, who has been superseded by
Capt. Conover. The force consists Of
the frigate Cumberland, the sloops Dale
and Vincennes.
The steam frigate San Jacinto, and
the sloops Portsmouth and Levant have
constituted the Chinese squadron, uu-
der the command of Capt. James An
derson. The hostilities between the
Chinese and English have induced the
Government to send an increased force
to this station. The steam frigate Min
nesota and Mississippi, and the sloop-of'
war Germantown have been sent there;
they sailed last August. Mr.. Reed, our
Envoy to China, went as passenger in
the Minnesota. Captain Tattnal, in the
steam frigate Powhattau, has been sent
to relieve Captain Armstrong. The
Powhattau will stop al Madeira to land
ex-President Pierce and his family.
The sloop Preble. the practice ship al
the Naval Academy. has been on hel
usual summer cruise with the first and
} second class of acting midshipmen.
The expedition Of the bark Release
to procure cuttings of sugar-cane is no
ticed, and also the return to England o
, the Arctic discovery ship Resolute, a.
well as the telegraphic expedition of tn
Niagara, but nothing is said about tn
) future movements of that ship.
The sfulexpedition of the sloop
, of-war Plymouth for the purpose Of ex
9 perimenting with the Dahlgrene gun
: approving noticed, and the expedition
3 has been sent to verify the survey ofth
t Atrato and Turardo rivers, with vie'
: to canal between the Atlantic and Pa
4 cific Oceans, and another expedition
: on the point of departure for the L
J, Plata. under the command Of Capt. Page
n to survey the Paraguay.-The work {
k publishing the survey Of the North Pa
!. ci6c and Behring's Straits is rpidly ad
= vancing. An inrease of the Marin
: Corps to the number of 1900 is recon
r mendsd. Further appropriations al
Is recommended for the purpose of maxim
h Key West coal depot for our nav
# ships. The war-steamer building at Ht
boken by the Stevens family, which WI
h not to exceed in cost $3.50, 900, has .
st ready consumed 500, 600 and . commi'
% sion appointed to examine into her col
dition report that it will require 68l2
033 68 to complete her. This stupel
Is dous affair was commenced in the ye,
ID Of lo42. The executors of R. L. Ste
el ems say that $7o2' 900 has been expen
r ed upon tho vessel, and it is propose
,g the Government pay over to them S8f
er TIT 81. the balance of the unapprop
ur atea money for the purpose.