Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-01

the act Of March Sd, 1863, withdraEs and
apprOpriates to the Vallego claimants all
the lands within the limits of the Suscol
Ranch, in California, where the claimants
may establish their rights according to the
requirements of that law.
This decision has been sanctioned by the
Secretary Of the Interior, and becomes an
authOritive determination Of the question,
| and will govern all laws coming Up under
the act Of 1868. The Register and Receiver
at San Francisco will be instructed accord
ingly.
The Report Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury with reference to the sales of gold, will
probably be sent to Congress on Monday.
1t is stated that it will show the total sales
amounting TO about $4,000, 600 at premi-
um since the lst inst, Of S04; also that no
gold was sold in March and April for less
premium than %.
A long Report upon the timber question
Of the West was to-day transmitted.
s#5 PROM NEW ORLEANS.
NEW ORLEANS, May 3I.-The weather
continues bad for cotton.
6. N. MOrrison's drug store, No. Il Maguie
street, was destroyed by fire last night.
Loss 0,000; insured for $40 900.
A Vera Cruz steamship leaves on the Tth
STEAMER EXPLOSION.
AEHrHIs, May 3I.-The steamer City of
Memphis, from New Orleans for St. Louis,
explOd at the foot Of Buck Island, 40
miles below here. at o'clock this morning,
tearing away the forward cabin and setting
the Ioat on fire. She bad 2s cabin passen-
gers and 60 deck hands. The following
were the lost: Mr.. Smith, Evansville, Mrs.
Donne Deagles, Pilot F. Perdue, G. Britton,
steermans George Hanger, 1st Engineer
Harrison Fox, two stewards, e. A. Hamil-
ton, cabin boy, and Jas. Robinson. The
following were the scalded: Mrs. Wake
field, Mrs. Seldom, Samuel Harris, Second
Mate, leg broken, Nick Burns, ID Engineer,
leg broken. Sixty persons arc supposed to
be lost and injured. The steamer st. Pat
rick brought up the survivors. The Mem
Phis was owned by the Atlantic Steamship
Company and valued at $4,000. Insured.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Judge Edmonds, Commissioner Of tie
General Land Ofioe, in reply to a call for
information, under the resolution Of Re-
preventative Donnelly, as to the expediency
Of aiding experiments in promoting the
growth of forests on the western plains,
states that the vast plains and plateaus can
only be rendered habitable by planting
forest trees which will fertilize and moisten
the soil, soften and modify the climate,
and protect men, animals, and crops
from the devastating winds Of those regions.
The supply Of timber in the western two
thirds of the Union is shown 10 be very
meagre- While the prairie region is vast
in extent-while our population has risen
from three to thirty-three millions, we
have gone through and surrounded the pri-
meval forests and entered upon the margin
of the great treeless waste with our original
store three-fourths consumed, the demand
i Il A..
from thirty-three to fifty millions during
this century Extend the time fifty years
into the next century and unless we COM
mence TO grow forests we may be driven to
the use of boards three inches wide, as in
China at the present time. Is 1t net appa-
rent that we should at once cease 10 need
lesslY destroy and commence to produce
timber?
The Commissioner thinks the object can
not be accomplished by granting alternate
sections Of land as the Homestead Act al
ready gives upon the condition Of set
tlement for the cost Of planting and caring
for infant forests, alternate sectional grants
would be an Inadequate confederation He
is not prepared 30 recommend any general
system to encourage the growth of 70 ests
but thinks one may be matured by free
discussion and when information is COM
piled as TO the extent Of natural forests, &e.,
which is now being prepared by agents.
He closed with three suggestions.
First, That the Homestead Act be 50
amended as 10 oblige the planting Of trees
by the settlers.
Second. That the Government Surveyors
be required TO plant the seeds of trees
adapted to the climate, around each estab-
lished correr.
Third. That grants may, with propriety
ha ia for ha f,fN 4
the possibility and feasibility of growing
forests upon the great western plains. Such
an experiment would stimulate individual
enterprise in that direction, which after all
IS the only reliable and efficient power for
50 great work, and it would furnish facts
which might aid in the development Of
some general system.
FLORAL DEcORATIOS Oh TIE GRAVES OF con-
FEDERATE SOLDIERS.
RIcHNoSD, May 3l.-The floral decoration
of the graves Of Confederate soldiers buried
at Hollywood, for which extensive prepar-
atoms had been made, took place to-day.
Business was suspended in the city and
nearly the entire white population repaired
to the cemetery during the day, and took
part in or witnessed the memorial honors.
There was no speaking or formal ceremony.
The proceedings passed off quietly and
Without hccluenI. Ing weather vas CAedI
and delightful.
TELEGRAPHIc.
LANCASTER, N. H, May 81 The Ameri-
can Telegraph Company have this day
completed their White Mountain line to
this town, and opened an Office here and at
Whitesfeld.
SUICIDE.
PouGHKEEPsIE, N. Y, May 31.-A young
named Jacob Anther committed suicide in
this city this afternoon, by blowing his
brains out with revolver. Cause embar-
rassment in business and love. The affair
has created considerable excitement
FESIASs.
NEW HAVEN, May 31.-One company of
Fenians, 100 strong, left here this evening
bound north.
RESIGNED.
NEW YoRK, May 3l.-Sidney H. Gay,
for some years managing editor of the
has resigned his position, but
still retains connection with that journal
as leading writer.
The striking shipwrights had Pic Me
at Jones' woods to-day. Six hundred per-
sons were present. Speeches were made
sustaining the strike
HoSoRs TO THE DEAD.
The Common Council have passed resoIu-
tons requesting a suspension of business in
the city to-day in honor of the memory of
the late General Scott The Mayor and
other city officials will proceed to West
Point tomorrow morning TO take part in the
funeral ceremonies.