The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-03

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3Il : : SIS ~ y
soH 81 a k o!ld sss: ordinary
lssa I sspe ssa 81 sadins Inierea
81, tie public debt, 1859, 8s5.3f; leaving
surplus revenues $34, Il 54,5S4 add amount
received from rfetnisifn On sales ,of gold IN
excess pf The, pre1niistn paid 0nsh bends pur.
chased. 81, AA54, $40 81; add TIE amount Of the
reduction of the cash balance at the close Of
the year, ACCOMPANIED lib same at the com.
nlaneemestsef the year; 90 3S77f s65--totaI.
s9g, ge0, 253.5S., This statement treats solely
of the principal Of the public debt by fiIe
monthly statement s1f the publ debit which
adds together the principal interest due and
unpaid, and interest accrued to date not due,
and deducts the cash in the Treasury. as as.
eertained on the day Or publ ton. The re-
ductien was Sl00, 644, 491 rs. The source of
this reductions is as follows: Reduction In
principal account, S99 $3.50, 003aJ4 &; re-
duction in unpaid interest account;
S333N,952 So -grand total, 2103,290, $3.50.
Reduction ii, cash on hand, S2;74e, 1852;
grand total; 500, al. 49l.2s On the basis of
the last table the statements show reduc-
ton of the public debt from the lst Of March,
1859, to- the present time as follows: From
March Il, 1869, TO March I, 1870, SS7.134,-
sT82.S4; from March l, 1870, to Marchi 1911,
Sill sis, s30.25; from March Il, 1911, to
March 4; 1879, s94, 1875 81; from March
4. 1879, to November /, 1872 (eighs nionthsJ;
5000, 237.s4. Total, $685., $50, $685. 81:
With. the great leduction Of: saxation by the
acts Of Congress at its last session; the ex-
ylenditures of the Government In collecting
the revenue will be much reduced for the
next fiscal year. ut Is very doubifGE how.
ever; whether any further reduction of 80
yexatious burthen upon any people will
be practicable for the present. AT all events,
as measure Of justice to the holders Of the
'nation's certificates of Indebtedness, Iwould
recommend that no more legislation be
had on this subject unless it be to correct
errors of omission or commission in the pres
ent laws, until sufficient time has elapsed to
prove that it can be done and still leave
sufficient revenue to meet current expenses
of Government, pay interest on the public
debt, and provide, for the sinking fund
established by law. The preservation Of our
national credit is of the highest importance.
Next in importance to this comes solemn
duty to provided national currency OF fixed,
unYaryiDg value as compared with gold, and
as soon as practicable, having due, regard for
the interests of the debtor. class and the
yicissitudes of trade ,and, commerce, con-
yertible into gold at par. .,,,ss.r
ar II Il WAR DEPARTMENT. III. =
/ The report Of the Secretary of War shows
the expenditures of the War Department for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1871, to be
$35, 799, 991 .s2, and Tor the fiscil year ending
June 81, 1872, to be $50, 1872, 1920, showing
a reduction in favor OF the last fiscal year OF
1927 ,S34. G2. The estimates for military
appropriations for the next fiscal year ending
June 80, 1874, are s33, 801 ,37S.7S. The estl.
mates of The Chief of Engineers are sub.
United separately for Notifications, river and
harhor improvements, and for public build
ings and grounds, and the Washington aqua
duct. The affairs f.the Freedman's Bureau
have all been transferred to the War Depart
ment, and regulations have been put into
execution for the speedy payment OF
bounty, pay, &c., due colored soldiers,
properly coming under that Bureau. All
war accounts for money and. property prior
to 1871 have been examined aud transmitted
to the Treasury for final settlement. During
the fiscal year there has been paid for trans
portation on railroads 81 100000 of which
$780, 57 was over the Pacific railroad; for
transportation by water S626, 1892, and by
stage $4S,9T5S5; and for the purchase of
transportation animals, wagons, hire OF
teamstels s, &c., 1924 ,65Q.64. About $4,000
have been collected from southern railroads
during the year, leaving about 1000 still
due. The QuartermaStel has examined and
transmitted to the accounting officers for set.
Element S3G7, 172.72 Of claims By loyal citi-
zens Tor quartermasters stores taken during
t le war. Subsistence supplies to the amount
Of SS9,04S12 have been issued to Indians.
The annual average mean strength OF the
army was d, 1OI white and 2,494 colored sols
diers. The total deaths for the year reported
were 165 white and 81 colored. The diStri-
button of the Medical and Surgical History
of the War is yet to be ordered by Congress.
There exists an absolute necessity fora medi.
cal corps of the full number established by
act of Congress Of July Is, 1856, there being
now 1ifty-nlne vacancies, and the number OF
successful applicants rarely exceeds eight or
ten IN any one year.
i The river and harbor! improvements have
been carried on with energy and economy.
Though many are only partially completed,
the results have secured to commerce
greater depth of channel, greater security in
navigation, and the saving OF time ADDS
millions to the wealth of the country and In
creases the resources OF. the Government.
The bridge across the Mississippi river ut
Rock Island has been completed, and the
proper site has been determined upon for
the bridge at La Crosse.
1 The able and exhaustive report made by
4 the commissioner appointed to investigate
the Sutro tunnel has been transmitted TO
Congress. t<.tt le'i' ~
The observations and reports Of the Signal
Office have been continued, stations have
/! been maintained ateaeh of the principal lake,
seaport, and river cities. Ten additional
! stations, have been established in the United
States, and arrangements have been made
i for an exchange of reports with Canada |;
| aud @ similar exchange Of observations IS
contemplated with the West India islands.
| The favorable attention Of Congress is in.
Vited to the following recommendation OF
the Secretary of War: A discontinuancc OF.
the appointment Of extra lieutenants to serve
as adIutants and quartcrmasters; the adoP-
tion Ola code providing special penalties Tor
well-defined offences. SO that the inequality
of sentences by courts-martial may be al
justed; the consolidation of accounts under
which expenditures are made as G measure
Of economy; an, appropriation of the money
Flor the construction OF depot at san
i Antonio. the title to the site being now per"
| fected special act placing the cemetery at
the City OF Mexico on the same basis us
other national cemeteries; authority TO pur-
chase sites for military posts in Texas; the
appointment Of commissary- from
non commissioned officers, as q measure Tor
| snc1i,-iaatr fhd hoifnr. md Nrnfecfion