New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-05

number of acres granted to railroads and wagon
roads at 1S4, $4,000 acres.
Tho Alaska matter is becoming still more fragrant.
The correspondent alluded to by Frederick P. STAN
ton as having demanded money to aid the passage
of the appropriation, to-day appeared before the
Committee, and, under oath, pronounced the state
ment false in every particular
The Senate Committee on Commerce authorized
bill to be reported relating to tho seal fisheries in
Alaska. 1t authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury
to make contracts with persons engaged in that trade
on terms most advantageous to the Government. 1t
provides for a small royalty to the Government on
all furseals taken and removed from those islands.
The House Commerce Committee had the same sub
ject under consideration to-day, but unable to
agree upon all the provisions of the BILL These
bills propose to advertise proposals for fishing on
these islands, and royalty on all skins killed of 81
each to the Government The parties engaged in
this traffic allege that if this measure is adopted it
viii destroy tho trade the royalty tax is too
heavy. Mr.. Kellogg proposed to the Committee to
sell these islands to companies engaged in the seal
fisheries. 1t is thought they would bring not less
than million, or perhaps two millions of dollars.
AT the request of the President Of Howard Uniyer-
sity, Mr. Clark, Architect of tho Capitol, and Mr..
Mullett Supervising Architect of the Treasury
Department visited tho Howard University build
lngs last week, and after Inspection expressed the
opinion that the structure would stand for the pres
ent, if wero taken TO place weights upon any
but the lower floors, and If jars avoided. at
this time each of these gentlemen took specimens of
the brick which had been longest in the building
After testing these Mr. Malett wrote to the President
as follows, on the Goth ut:
Rec. Dr. SUNDERLAND. resident Of Hoicdrd University
DEAR SIR: have just tested the specimen which yon
had taken from the building Yesterday and find that 1t
i
Indeed, washed 1t 10 pieces in bucket OF water within
two minutes must confess that 1 surprised and
disappointed at this result and while you know, feel
reluctant 10 be considered aarmist, must say that
after my experiment cannot recommend that the
patton OF the building he continued. 1t may last many
years II painted as suggested yesterday but believe
that single storm would leave ruin. II
ring aftera continued rain. must withdraw my quail
flied assent to the occupation Of the building which
gave yesterday and say that cannot recommend that
You take responsibility In the Regretting
ceedngy that have been unable to come to any other
A. b. MULLET Supervising Architect.
Mr. Clarke wrote President Sunderland also, with
drawing the opinion he had expressed OF the safety
of the building. saying that the specimens he tried
partially dissolved in water, and that light blow
broke it, and the pieces then crumbled under the
pressure of the hand. He thinks continued rains
may make the lower part unable to sustain the
weight above aud that if the building is allowed to
stand it should be well oiled, and, in addition, q
frame be constructed inside which shall sustain the
gave the opinion that unless, as was claimed, the
block really sodifed with age, it was unsuited for
buildings more than one story high.
The Committee on Public Expenditures examined
q number of witnesses yesterday IN reference to the
Wells. Fargo 81 Co. mail contract, among whom
were Mr.. Robertson, the Superintendent of Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s Express and Mr. Carr of California, a
mail contractor. Mr. Robertson testified that he re-
sided at Salt Lake, Utah, that the mail service was
well performed and that there was no such accumu-
lation of mail matter had been charged. Mr. Carr
informed the Committee that he had been applied to
to take annterest in the bid of Mr. Spads, but on
figuring it up he had come to the conclusion that
there was no money in it and had declined. He had
come over the route in December and January and
had seen no evidence Of neglect the part Of the
contractors
The Public Expenditure Committee Of the House
to-day examined Mr. Scott Smith, a correspondent Of
Tile Nelo- York EreRing Post. in regard to charge
made in that paper to the effect that the Committee
would make an unfair report in the Wells, Fargo d
Company investigation.
Mr. Kerr, one of the Democratic members of the
Special CommitteeOn the New-Yort Election Frauds,
has summoned a number of New-York Iammany
politicians to testify before that Committee Charles
Loew, John b. Mexican, and Capt. Thompson, all
Tammany ofiice-hodcrs in New-York, are here for
that purpose.
Several parties representing steamship interests
were before the Senate Postal Committee, to-day.
Those favorable to establishing line running from
New-Yor and Boston, alternately to Europe, pre-
sented their case as did also those representing the
Bremen line, who ask for a contract TO carry the
ocean mails Dir Hubbard made an argument III be-
half Of his telegraph system Mr.. Orion of the West
ern Union was also present and will probably be
heard at next meeting.
The Committee on Reconstruction were to have
decided definitely to the restoration Of Mississippi
to the UniOn but postponed its action in consequence
Of information that another delegation from that
State is now on its way TO Washington. The Com
mttee has decided to report bill removing political
disabilities from number of persons in the South
The Hon. Z. b. Washburne, who has been detained
at home by severe sickness for several days has
far that he expects to resume his seat
in the House of Representatives.
The President has directed the Attorney General
to make report in the case of DR.. Mudd, as premi-
nary to pardon. The friends of DR.. Mudd gay they
have no doubt but that he will soon be set at liberty
This belief is based upon what the President told
them.
The President has recognized Ernst Boyer as Con-
sui of the North German Union at Mobile, Alabama !;
j. ii. COsser as Consul of North German Union AT
Boston; Emilio de las Casas as Consul OF Venezuela
ut New-YOrk Edward +. Davidson as Consul-Gen-
era of Argentine Republic for the United States.
The interest paid by the United States all bonds
| issued to the Union Pacific Railway Company East
ern Diyision) including Dec. 81, 1865 is $6S9,3O5.
tlfty per cent OF the earnings from Government
business returned to the Treasurer by the Company,
as provided by law, IL S5l67S5.
| The Light House Board Officially announces that
the range light at Hilton Head, South Carolina will
| be discontinued after the 18th Of March.
Inc iol9wing cases we're disposed ofin the Supreme
Brown agt Howson. and the Phenx Insurance Com.