Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-08
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP
[DEFERRED ARrICLEs.I

by the route explored in 1857 by Lieut. Bsale
is contained in a letter from Albuquerqus
New Mexico, under date of October 18th, By
L. J. Rose, one Of q party Of emigrants. Il
boars the impress Of truth, and no better ar
gument is required to show the wisdom of tn,
Efficient Chief Of the War Department in estab
lishing military posts on the routes most fre
qusntsd BY smigrants; and In order to secur,
them stin more efectually from molsststion
to seek and punish the ruthless savages when
ever they are to be found. These savages car
hardly be brought to regard treaty obliga
tons, which they assume, for the most part
with view to secure presents, in the shape o
blankets, tobacco, paint, &c., &c. They sci.
dom respect anything but the strong hand ol
power.
Roses party was beset when it reached the
Colorado, which journey had been performed
with great toll and considerable loss of stock,
by the MCjaves, a powerful tribe inhabiting
both banks Of that stream. Nearly all their
animals were run of, several of the party
killed, (among whom was q young LADY, and
many wounded. They determined to re-
trace their steps to Albuquerque, N. M, though
they were only ten or twelve days journey
Their suferings on the return trip, from want
Of conveyance for their wives and little ones,
from hunger and thirst, and from constant
alarms from the Indians, were excessive. They
occasionally met parties Of emigrants from
whom they obtained assistance, and they were
received with every kindness at Albuquerque.
They lost every thing they possessed, however,
having been obliged to leave their wagons
with their contents on the road, to be plum
dered by the Indians.
Amilitary post at the crossing of the Colorado
is, We believe, contemplated by the War De-
partment, if, indeed, orders have not already
been sent to establish it. 1t Is more needed
there than at any other point on the route, as
the rafting across that river is necessarily at
tended with difficulty, which the Mojaves, who
are bold and insolent, never fail to avail of to
indulge their thirst for blood and murder.
A horse ferry boat is required there, and it
can only be protected by permanent post
The country around is suitable for settlement,
and as there is a constant tide of emigration
passing that point, suficie Mt population will
soon collect to protect itself in great me asure
The military wagon road now in course Of
construction by that energetic officer, Lieut.
Beale, crosses the Colorado at this place, and
as soon as it is completed, the travel over il
will most likely be enormous, as it possesses
advantages over all other routes.
In this connection, we will mention that we
had the pleasure of meeting Mr.. Henry Buch-
anan Edwards, Lieut.. Beale's first assistant,
on Friday last, on his way to Chester, Va. He
had just arrived by express from Beale' camp,
at Cboutesn's old fort, on the Canadian river,
go miles south of Fort Smith, and gives a very
favorable report Of the prVgress Of the e1pedi
ton He contrsdicts the story of its having
been attacked by Camanches. Beale was some
what in advance Of his escort, which would soon
overtake him, but had not been molested. He
did not intend to go into winter quarters, but
expected to complete the road as far as Albu-
querque in time to commence the second Sec
tiOn, from Albuquerque to the crossing of the
Colorado, early next spring. When that is
done, we shall have a route opened to Califor-
MIA shorter, and bsttsr adapted to travel, than
any other.
PENSION OFFIcE.-It appears from the re-
port Of the Commissioner of Pensions that the
business Of bis Bureau is now up to date in all
its branches and that q material reduction of
its clerical force will soon become necessary.
During the past year 209 army invalid pen
sionsrs have been added to the rolls, the aggre-
gate of whose yearly stipends is SlS,775-that
the allowances Of 81 have been increased in the
further sum of 81 ,SS6, and that the whole num-
Der Of pensioners Of this class now on the rolls
in all the States is 4 1916, requiring the annual
sum Of $446, ,4Sj 80. The claims of III surviving
Revolutionary soldiers have been allowed, and
have had their stipends increased. l52 claims
have been allowed to widows Of Revolutionary
soldiers for the aggregate annual sum of
-, ,3j4 O6; and 80 have had their pensions in
creased in the further sum Of S2,070.35 per
annum. The number of olutiOnary soldiers
yet alive and drawing pensions is 253, and the
number Of widows Of deceased Revolutionary
soldiers is ,209. The annual amount required
for the former is SI4, 734 %, and for the latter
S334, ,4JO.o5. The number Of Revolutionary
soldiers whose deaths have been reported during
the year is l04, and Of the widows 624 l87
claims have Leen allowed to widows and or
plans Of the Army, whose yearly pensions
amount to Sl3 924. The whole number Of this
class now on the rolls is ,3i5 and their PEN
sions amount to Sl07 ,029 - per annum The
whole number Of Army pensioners now on the
rolls, under all the acts, is 10, ,723, and the sum
of their stipsnds is S9O2, 700 29. Thirty claims
have been allowed to inv Aids of the Navy, re-
qairing 81, ,4S5 30 per annum, and 80 to the
widows and orphan, of deceased Naval officers,
&c, requiring the annual sum Of S6 ,e96. The
whole number Of Navy pensioners now on the
rolls is s92, whose pensions amount to the az
gregate SUM Of $3.50, sol 10 per annum. The
entire amount paid during the year ending 3Oth
June, 1858, for Army and Navy pensions, e1-
elusive of the half-pay pension claims adjudi-
Gated by the Third Auditor Of the Treasury,
and Of what are termed unclaimed pensions" /"
was 81, ,13O, ,369. %. Under the set Of June Sd,
1853, renewing and continuing for life, or
during widOwhOod, the half-pa pensions pre-
yiously granted to certain widows and orphans
for the limited period OF Eve years, 54l claims
haze been nllnMed inxnIrinz thu imnediate