The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-25

WASHINGTON, Oct. "a, 1868.
The National Cemcierics--Neediess Extrrvn-
Eance.
report is in circulation here and has been sent TO
the newspapers In the North that the Quariermaser
General issued circular OF instructions a few days
since TO those officers OF his department having
charge OF cemetrica operations, In which he speaks
disapprovlngly OF the great expenditure of money
occasioIed by the elaborate manner in which the
work Is being done. Although there ia foundation
OF truth in the report il ID not sufficiently explicit to
give clear understanding OF the matter, which
does General Meigs injustice by lmputing TO him
wrong motives in thus censuring the extravaganza
which Is found ia several OF the national ceme-
tefles. The facts are briefly these:-Ihe
work OF removing the Union dead to GENE
teries located in different parts Of the
country was undertaken at the suggestion OF
General Meigs who was among The first 10 advocate
the measure, and the management OF the work was
conhded 10 him. The intention was to establish
national cemeteries convenient to the places where
great battles were fought during the late rebellion
to remove to them all the remains or federal soldiers
and Union men who were killed or who died during
the war; and to lay them out in walks and grass
plats ana decorate them with trees and shrubbery,
the cemeteries always to kept in repair by super
intendents appointed from among the manned
soldiers. 1t was estimated that the whole cost
would fall within $2.OO0OOO, but his return
from Europe lew months ago General Meigs
found that at number Of the cemeteries
work was being done that would involve
a much greater expenditure than was at first
anticipated. Macadamized carriage drives are
being constructed in cemeteries in the South
where they will be but little used and will require
several men continually to keep them free from
grass and in proper repair. Cutters were paved
where gravelling would have served quite as well,
and much labor was being expended in places where
1t seemed superfuous From one cemetery 1t appears
arequsition was made for about a hundred more men
and q large number OF teams. The General then
issued circular Of Instructions In which he cOun-
selled greater moderation in these portions OF the
work. The labor that has been expended on the
national cemeteries thus far has cost about 49, OOO
but with careful management it is expected that
further appropriation OF 100000 will complete the
work. About eighteen months ago the Quartermas-
ter General adopted an iron block to be placed at
the head OF each grave pyramidal in shape and
cast hollow containing the name, rank, company
and regiment OF the deceased), which was
durable and neat and could be furnished at cost OF
about two dollars each. His recommendation that
these iron head-blocks be used to designate the
graves was acted upon. 1t Ia understood that
the proposition was opposed by Senator Wade, who
contended that headstones should be used, which
would be much more expensive.
The graves in the most of the cemeteries are now
marked with boards, which are already showing
signs of decay. A map of the United States ON
which each national cemetery Is laid down, showing
the districts from which the bodies taken that
have been inferred in the cemeteries is being pre-
pared by the Quartermaster General The map Will
he submitted to Congress with the roll Of honor
with the recommendation that IT be published. This
map viii assist the friends OF those soldiers who
died killed in the war to ascertain in which
cemetery the remains are inferred.
Weekly Currency Report.
The amount Of fractional currency received from
the printing division for tile week ending to-day
amounts to $54l.6OO.
Shipments for the week to the Assistant Treasurer
at New York, 100000; to the United States deposl-
tory at Cincinnati $4,000; to the depository at Buff
falo $40, 900; to national banks, &C., $2S2,a5l.
The Treasurer holds in trust for national banks
as security for circulating notes. $342 o96, $40
for public deposit, $3s, l52,350; national bank
notes issued during the week, s69,9so. Tota
to date, $3l0,3l3.7s6. Mutilated bills returned
$685. 27o; insolvent bank notes redeemed 1884, 1891
in actual circulation at this date S29s 1856
fractional currency redeemed during the week.
s4O9.50O.
New Postal Arrangements with Prince Ed.
wurds Island.
Under q new arrangement just concluded between
the Post Office Department OF the United States and
OF Prince Edwards Island the single rate OF post
age on international letters will be reduced on and
after the 1st OF November, 1858, from ten to six
cents, II prepaid at the Office Of mailing In either
country; but If posted unpaid, or insuficienty pre-
paid, they will be subject to postage charge OF ten
cents per single rate in the country Of destination.
The authorized weight OF single letter will be mr.
teen grammes by the metrical scale In the United
States and half an in Prince Edwards Island.
Transportation Of Western Cattle Through
Canada.
The State Department has received despatch
from the United States Consul at Toronto, Canada
relative TO the removal Of the prohibition on the
transportation OF cattle from the United States
through Canada. The Consul encloses letter from
the Secretary OF the Ontario Board OF Agriculture
saying an order In the Council had been passed by
the government the LIST OF October to the effect
that representations having been made that the
Texas cattle fever had almost disappeared, the
prohibition on the transportation Of cattle should
be removed from and after the sth inst. under the
inspection OF duly appointed officers for the ports Of
Windsor and Sarnia.
Freedmen's Bureau Agent Murdered.
Information has been received at the Freedm en- Il
Bureau through unofficial sources, that william G.
Kirkham. agent for the Bureau for Northeastern
Texas, was murdered ut Boston, Texas, on the 18th.
General Hownrd's Annual Report.
General Howard's annual report OF the operations
or the bureau has been completed and transmitted
W the Secretary OF War.