The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-01-11
MISCELLANEOUS.


That Sally AIMS away.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Report Of the Deparsments--Abstrac
SECRETARY OF WAR.
The Secretary Of War reports that while |
the authorized strength Of the army is 49, |
LIS, the number in July last was only H.
1873, and IL 900 Of that number were alone
available for service in the field. Small as
it is, the force has been required to man $50
permanent garrisons, posts and camps,
scattered over an area of three millions of
square miles, and consequently it has been
impossible to give ample security to citizens
on our frontiers. In relation to our South
ern and Mexican border, the Secretary hopes
to make such alteration in the disposition of
the troops next season as will prevent any
Measures have already been
taken to subdue the Camanches and Kio-
was, and give protection to the routes from
Missouri and Arkansas to New Mexico.
He recommends that provision be made
for retiring, disabled and inRrm officers
The necessity for enlisting Transfers is
urged, as is in the enlisting Of frontier cit
liens, for frontier service, for six months
terms, the men to provide their own horses.
He speaks favorably of the condition of the
military academies, of the experience in
breech-loading guns, and Of the use Of cam
els for service in the interior. The whole
cost Of the Army is put down $1s,oss.-
725 70, which he thinksmay be considera-
bly, reduced, The condition of affairs in
Utah is such that there is scarcely any ne
cessity for troops there, and they will prob
ably be withdrawn. The report concludes
with brief account of John Browns attack
on Harpcr's Ferry. E B
sECRETATY OF TIE NAVY.
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy
enters largely into the achievements of the
Paraguay squadron, and into the new and
extended arrangements for suppressing the
African slave trade. Reference is made to
the fact that score Of new steam vessels
had been added to the navy since the Access
sion of the present administration an aug
mcntation which has called for cores
ponding enlargement of the personal force
officers, pursers and crews. Events at
San Juan and at the mouth Of the Peiho
are touched upon; and the explorations of
Lieut. Brooks among the Pacific Islands are
spoken of with approval. A contract exc.
cuted with the Chiriqui Improvement Com
pany by the Department is represented to
be of great value, It comedies large areas
of land on other side Of the Isthmus, rights
Of transit, and the occupation of the neces-
sary harbors, and the ownership of all the
coal found on the Company's Territories
For this 100000 are to be paid, should
Congressratify the bargain. The expend-
lures Of the Department for the fiscal year
were $i4,659, 267; and the appropriations,
$l4,509, 1854. The estimated expenditures
for the year ending June 80, 1860, were
$13,5Oo, $40; the appropriations SIC, AGA
zoo. For the year ending June 80, 1861,
the estimates are $11 ,244,845.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
The report Of the Secretary of the In
terror embodies mass Of information rela-
tive to the several bureaus constituting that
Department. The General Land Office
presents this general synopsis of its bust
ness During the five quarters ending
Sept 80, 18,61s,lS3 acres Of the public
lands were disposed Of; 4,97O,5OO acres
were disposed Of for cash, yielding 81, lO7,-
476; 3,5l7,44 acres were located with
bounty'land warrants; 1,7l2,O4O were ap-
proved to the several States entitled to them
under the swamp grants of March 2, 1s49,
and Sept. %, 1850; and 1915, 2O3, acres
certified to the States, as falling to them
under the grants for rail road purposes
The Indian Bureau states that the average
annual expenditure of Indian accounts is
4s,O66, go, and that the funded capital Of
the annuities to be paid to the Indians is
$2l, 472, 423. There are $50, 900 Of the ab.
odgines within the limits Of the Federal
Union.
The Commissioner of Pensions has H..
5s6 pensioners on his roll, calling for g..
034,9l5 in money. The necessary expen.
SEES which will be secured by the census,
will require the appropriation Of at least
$1,000, 900. 1t is believed both wise and
just to confine the purchase and distribu
ton 1t the Agricultural Office to such va
ricties Of plants, seeds cuttings, ETC., a
have not already been introduced into the
coantry. An appropriation to provide per.
Manent and convenient accommodations for
the Courts Of the United States in New
York in Burton's Theatre building, Cham
bers street, b recommended.
0A rasclly old bachelor says man fire.
quently admits that he was in the wrong, but
Q woman nevcr-she was ssonly mistaken