Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-16
the beginning to the SOth of June, iss57,-

the beginning to the 3Oth of June, $751;
220, $50.
The river and barber works have pro.
crossed as rapidly as the means appropri.
ated for their execution allowed. The APP
preparation in April last of S2,0O0,OO0 for
these works was distributed in accordance
with the law, so as to best subserve the
interests of commerce. The survey of the
northern and northwestern lakes has pro
gre.sed commensurately with the amount
appropriated for conducting it.
The Lake Superior survey is drawing
to completion. 1t has developed many
new harbors Of refuge, and made known
danger to navigation highly important to
the commercial interests Of the States de.
pendent on this water line of communi.
cation for the transportation of cereals
and ores. Reconnaissance and geological
explorations and surveys have been c. n.
tinued3 during the year in the territory
west Of the mississippi river, anA the in
formation that has been obtaine,, : sup
piled to the Hoops occupying that section
of the country. The survey of the Colo.
RADIO of the West has not, for special rea-
sons, been resumed. Collateral surveys
now in progress may furnish evidence of
the necessity Of the survey of the upper
portions of the river, and the improve
ment of the lower portion as line of
military supply, and of travel and trans
pOrtation from the mines of Southern Ne
vada. The geological survey just COM
pleted from the Sierra Nevada to the
Rocky Mountains is fruitful in valuable re-
suits, especially in relation to the mining
regions, and the extent of the coal forma-
/ ton. II also furnishes other scientific
! data of great interest.
Liberty arsenal, Missouri, has been sold
during the year under authority of the
act of July %, 1868, and realized the sum
of $S,01250. The st. Louis arsenal will
be sold under the same act, as soon as it
can be spared, but certain buildings there
at should be reserved from sale and do
mated to general army purposes. Rome
arsenal, New York; Champlain arsenal
Vermont; Mt. Vernon arsenal, Alabama !;
Appalachicola arsenal, Florida, and North
Carolina arsenal, North Carolina, are re-
commended to be sold. It is advisable
that this should be done, and that the
captured lands in Shreveport, La, and
Marshall and Jefferson, Tex, and in Ma
rion and Davis counties, Texas, should
bs similarly disposed Of
A principal arsenal of construction and
deposit and powder depot are recon-
mended to be established on the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, and in the valley of the
Mississippi. The sale of some of the
present Eastern arsenals is suggested as a
means to raise funds wherewith to estab-
lish the principal arsenal for the Atlantic
coast Rock Island is the point for the
principal arsenal for the valley of the
Mississippi Powder depots should be es-
tablished on the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts, Some more buildings are required
at the Jefferson barracks, and are recon-
mended to be paid for out of the proceeds
of the sale of the st. Louis arsenal.
The expenses of the Freedmen's Blu
reau were met the first year with the pro.
ceeds of rents, sales of crops, school tax,
and tuition, and sale OF Confederate
State" property. The amount received
from all the miscellaneous sources was ST.
865,645S0, and from appropriations by
Congress since July, 1856, $11,084,75O,
making total of $l2,950,3S5.S0 re-
ceived from all sources The expendi-
lures, including the accounts of the "De.
partment Of negro affairs" from June l.,
1865, to Aug 81, 1869, lave been $11 1884,
OPS TO- The total expenses of the bureau
have been $l3,524S1fSs
The division commanded by Lieut.. Gen
Sheridan embraces the departments of
ha LOT VI;
handed respectively by Maj Gen. w. II
Hancock, Bvt. Maj Gen. August, Bvt.
Maj Gen. Schofield These three de-
partments cover a territory of great ex.
tent, in which most of the civilized, semi
civilized, and wild Indians abide, and in
clude the States of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri,
! Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota, and
the Territories Of Colorado, New Mexico,
Wyoming, Utah, Dakota, Montana, and
1 the Indian. The administration of these
| departments has been ably and economi-
cally conducted; but the number Of troops
now on duty in them is deemed INSULT.
cent, with the present reduced strength
of companies, to meet the wants of the
service.
Although there have been numerous
depredations in this division, the condition
of Indian affairs is very much better than
last year. The policy of reservations
adopted by the Indian department is, in
the judgment of Gen. Sheridan, the policy
that will put an end to Indian murders
and depredations. Every effort is made to
avoid the necessity of furnishing the saw
ages, with the strong hope that they may
settle down on their reservations and adopt
a more peaceful and civilized life. The
system of supplying the wild bands under
the present Indian management is work
ing well. The Indian receives all that the
Government intends he should, and can
have no plea Of bad faith to urge as an ex
cuse for return to his former habits
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY.