The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-09
w A s HING N .
NEW YORK, September 8. 1872.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 1872.
The Presidents Return to the White
House.
1t L. expected that the President and his family
will resume their residence at the Executive Man
sion about the 10th instant. For month past re-
pairs have been progressing In that building and
other arrangements made to add to the comfort o.
the occupants by that time 1t Is supposed the alb
sent heads Of the departments will also have re-
turned. Meantime the officials in charge are col
lectIng data for the usual annual reports to Con-
gress.
Government Printing.
The Government Printing Office has q very large
amount OF printing to be executed-the Census re-
ports and the remaining testimony OF the Ku Klux
investigation included. The volumes of the latter
are not sought for, and, piled in the document
rooms Of the Capitol, are as so much waste paper
Repairs at the Capitol.
Repairs are going on at the Capitol, both on the
Senate and House sides. The furniture has been
vanished and the paint brush is in active exercise
preliminary to the placing of the carpets and other
winter arrangements
Manufacture of Campaign Documents.
The polical committees-the republican, demo-
cratic and iberal-occupy rooms and passage ways
in the basement Of both wings. Many men and
addressing documents both day and night. At least
one hundred thousand Of them are sent away daily,
especially to the States most in dispute, and carts
and wagons are in constant requsition to take the
packages to the railroad The printers in this
city are kept busy working for the respective
parties.
The Vienna Exhibition.
Genearl Van Buren,, United States Commissioner
for the Vienna Exposition, Is now engaged in the
preparation Of a circular to the Governors of the
different States asking contributions of all educa
tonal reports and copies Of school books which the
Commissioner may be authorized to present to the
Austro- Hungarian government after the exhibit
ton; also urging. II possible, some steps towards
sending model schOOlhOuse. These requests have
been urged upon the Commissioner In every CON-
municatiOn he has received from Baron Schwarz,
the chief director OF the Exhibition. The Commits
siOner has also referred these requests in COM
municatiOn to the Board of Education Of the city
Of New York. with prospects Of favorable action.
He is receiving applications for space, but they are
not so numerous as he desires, and indisproporton
to the Importance Of grand representation Of
American industry at Vienna.
The New south Shetland Islands.
In answer to letter OF inquiry in regard to
recent return from the Custom House, at Stoning-
ton, Conn.,, the Bureau of Statistics has received
from Mr. Hubbard, Collector of that port, inter-
esting statement with regard to an important
group Of uninhabited islands, situated south and
east Of Cape Horn in latitude 81 to So degrees
south, longitude "a to 90 degrees west, and known
as the New South Shetland Islands. These islands
had not been visited for about twenty years until
within year or two past, during
which time thousands OF seaskins of
very fine quality, as well as thousands
Of gallons Of sea elephant oil have been obtained.
Mr. Hubbard expresses the opinion that If these
islands were properly surveyed and their positions
well defined a very profitable business could be
done there. He says the nature of the voyage is
such as to require large crew, being somewhat
like whaling voyage in this respect The vessels
carry three four seal boats twenty-sx or twenty
eight feet in length each requiring crew OF five
six men. After reaching the islands they
cruise about the group very cautiously, and
often leave boats crew where they find
''roOkery' of seal or sea elephant. These
the crew KILL as they deem proper, or hold posses
sion of the 'Tookery' in case of competition. 1t
sometimes happens that the seals are not in
proper condition to be taken, or that not enough
have collected to warrant an attack. AS the sea-
son is exceedingly short not exceeding six eight
weeks 1t is necessary to have strong gang to take
advantage of this kind of business. The voyage is
usually OF about ten months duration from the time
of leaving port.
Statistics of the Iron Industry.
The completed returns OF the ninth census, just
sent to press show the following facts in regard to
the several branches OF iron industry in the United
States during the year ending June l, 1S7o:-
Pig Iron-3S6 establishments, 574 blast furnaces
with daily capacity of 1857 tons melted metaD,
employing 1854 hands producing 2,O52s2l tons OF
pig OF the value Of $69, $40, 49s
Bloomary Forges-s2, employing 1902 hands, pro:
q VA Of
81, 766,623.
Foundries-2,s5o, employing 5l,2e7 hands and
producing to the value OF sos, s37,2is
Forges-1o2, employing 1851 hands and producing
to the value Of 49, 47,6o9.
iron, nail, plate &c-sOe, employing a, e4s hands
and producing to the value of $120, SOl ,15s.
Returns received yesterday by the Commissioners
Of the General Land Office from the local office at
Lincoln, Nebraska, show disposal OF $500 acres
of the public land in that district during the month
of August last; 27,s47 Of the aggregate were
taken up under the Homestead acts by actual set
tiers seeking homes in the West, and about $4,000
acres by presumption settlers.
New Revenue Regulations.
After the 3Oth Of September Collectors of Internal
Revenue will be held responsible for the collection
of penalties and Supervisors will be instructed to
frequently examine the lists with the view of en-
forcing the collection. The practice has been for
Collectors to use their discretion; but they are In
formed that in all instances the duty is obligatory
and must be rigdly enforced.
The First Comptroller has decided that powers of
attorney and other evidences of authority to collect
interest, or to enclose drafts or checks executed
on and after the LIST of October, need not be
stamped.
Gaugers are to be instructed to brand beer kegs
with the denomination Of the stamp required in
place OF their capacity. The Internal Revenue
Bureau holds that for all practical purposes q keg
containing less than the pretended capacity must
be stamped the same as If 1t was full package.
Suit Against Senator schurz.
The Treasury Department Will in few days in.
stitute suit against Carl schurz while Minister to
Spain in 1861 for a deficiency in his account Of
s1,ol3 81. The account was audited by the Fifth
Auditor on Friday, and sent to the First Comp