The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-12-09
S42 4GiTG e0

Total s42 46i7 &c ~
There remain now in service only the G0 regular
paymasters authorized hv the reorganization of the
armv passed July 2S 1876 The disbursements for
reconstruction purpose are 81 613 2e3 46 and the
balance in the hands of the paymaster Oct 2S. 1859.
is <1l06+319 The total amount disburSed hv the
Pavmasters department for additional hounties. in
Guiding those settled by the Second Auditor and
paid by the Treasury department on treasury
certificates. from the beginning TO the Both OF June.
The river and harbor works have progressed as
rapidly az the means appropriated for their execu
tion allowed. The appropriation in April last OF
50 On00G0 for these works was distributed in &C
cOrdance withfthe law as best t0Suhserye thefn-
terests of commerce. The survey of the northern
and northwestern lakes has progressed commen-
surately with the amount appropriated for con-
ducting il.
The Lake Superior survey is drawing to COM
pletion. II has developed many new harhOrS ofref
uge. and made know danger 10 navigation highly
important to the commercial interests of the States
depenent on this water line of communication for
the transportation OF cereals and ores. Recon
noisances and geological explorations and surveys
have been continued during the year in the ter
rltOry west of the Mississippi river. and the in
formation that has been obtained Is supplied Ito the
troops occupying that section Of the country. The
survey of the Colorado Of the West has not. for
| special reasons been resumed. Collateral surveys
now in progress may furnish evidence of the
sity of the survey of the upper portions Of the
river and the improvement of the lower portion as
line of military supply and of travel and trans
poration from the mines Of Southern Nevada. The
geological survey inst completed from the Sierra
Nevada to the Rocky Mountains is fruitful in yalu
able results. especially in relation 10 the mining
regions, and The extent of the coal formation IL
also furnishes other scientific data Of great interest
Liberty arsenal Missouri. has been sold during
the year under authority Of the act of July % 1858.
and realized the sum of SS.0l2.j0. The St Louis
arsenal will be sold under the act soon as
il be spared. but certain buildings thereat
should be reserved from sale and donated 10 gene
raj army purposes. Rome arsenal New York;
Champlain arsenal. Vermont: Mt. Vernon arsenal.
Alabama: AppaachCOla arsenal. Florida. and
North Carolina arsenal. North Carolina. are recon-
nended he sold Ii is advisable that this should
he done and that the captured lands in Shreveport
La and Marshall and Jefferson Tex, and in Marion
and Davis counties, Texas, should be similarly dis
posed Of
and powder depot are recommended 10 be esfah-
lished on the Atlantic and Pacific and in the
valley of the Mississippi The sale Of some OF the
present Eastern arscnals is suggested as means 10
raise funds wherewith 10 establish the principal
arsenal for the Atlantic coast. Rock Island Is the
point for the principal arsenal for the valley of me
Mississippi. Powder depOts should be established
on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Some more
buildings required NJ the jefferson barracks
and are recommended TO be pald Tor OUT oi ihe pr"
ceeds of the sale OF the 81 Louis arsenal.
The expenses OF the Freedmens Bureau were
met the first year with the proceeds of rents sales
of crops, school tax and tuition, and sale OF " Con,
federate State" property. The amount received
from all the miscellaneous sources was sLS55,-
GAS So and from from ,sanproPr1i,at1SIns SI by Lon
a total of Sl2.95O.3S5 50 received from all
sources The expenditures. including the accounts
of the Department of negro affairs. from June !.
1869 TO Aug. 81. 1862. have been $l114.02S 10 The
total expenses of the bureau have been Sl3,5st,
$685.
The division commanded by Lieut. Gen.
Sheridan embraces the departments OF Da-
kota the Platte. and Missouri commanded
respectively by Mai. Gen. W H Hancock Bvt-
Mai Gen August Bvt, Maj. Gen. Schofeld. These
three departments cover ierrtOy of great extent.
in which most of the civilized semicivlized. and
wild Indians abide and include the States Of Hi
nois Iowa Missouri. Kansas Nebraska. and Mime
sofa aud the Territories of Colorado New Mexico.
Wyoming Utah Dakota. Montana and the Indian.
The administration of these departments has been
ably and economically conducted; hut the number
of troops now on duty in them l. deemed insult
cient with the present reduced strength OF compa
nies to meet the wants OF the service.
Although there have been numerous depreds-
tions in this division. the condition of Indian affairs
is very much better than last year. The policy OF
reservations adopted by the Indian department l..
in the judgement of Gen. sheridan the policy that
will put an end 10 Indian murders and deprcdations
Every effort is made 10 avoid the necessity of pun
ishing the savages. with the strong hope that they
| NAV settle down on their reservation and adopt
4 more peaceful and civilized, life The system Of
supplying the wild bands under the present lndisn
| infringement is working well The Indian receives
all that the Government intends he should. and can
have no plea of bad faith to urge an excuse for
return to his former habits