The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-07-26
WASHINGTON.
Naval Matters.

| ARLINGTON, July Ao.-NdFal SUI
plies, bids for which were recently
opened at the Navy Department will be
awarded about the latter part of next
week. The list OF supplies to be fur
nished is very large. embracing all kinds
of material used in the construction OF
ships and at the navy yards, the cost OF
which will be about a. 100000 for the
present fiscal year. 1t is probable that
when the contracts have been awarded
the work at the several navy yards will
become active as the new supplies will
be furnished Immediately and the work
which is now suspended for the want OF
proper supplies will be at once resumed.
Rear Admiral Joseph Lannau, lately
commanding the United States fleet in
the South American waters, has been
placed on the retired list, by reason OF
long and faithful service, and he also
being over sixty-two years Of age, the
age required by law TOR the retirement
Of officers OF the navy. The retire.
ment OF this officer promotes Commo.
dore Alex NJ. Pollock, in command OF
the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, navy
yard, to be Rear Admiral, and Captain
II. R. Wyman, in charge OF the hydro
graphic office in this city, to the grade
OF Commodore. There will be no pro-
motion to fill the vacancy caused by
Captain Wyman's promotion, Congress
having at the last session passed law
restoring Captain Beaumont to active
duty, which increased the number OF
Captains to fifty.one; but the promo
ton of Captain Wyman reduces them
to fifty, the number required by law.
Commodore Thomas o. Selfridge,
Inspector OF the coast lighthouse, will
probably be ordered to the Boston navy
yard.
North Carolina and Virginia.
Senator Wilson returned here this
morning from North Carolina aud Vir
ginia He speaks very confidently OF
the prospect Of the Republicans to
carry the former State at the election. to
be held on the first of August. He says
the Democrats are using large sums OF
money and are very active throughout
the State. He says that the meeting at
Richmond last evening was large and
enthusiastic.
Death of War Department Clerk.
The War Department is draped in
mourning and closed to-day in respect
to the memory of John Potts, late
Chief Clerk in that Department, whose
funeral takes place this afternoon.
Naval Orders.
Lieut.. George w. Rigman has been
detached from the Naval Academy and
ordered to the Yantic; First Assistant
Engineer Henry Snyder has been de-
tached from the Philadelphia Navy
Yard and ordered to the Soranac +;
Second Assistant Engineer Levi I. Caf-
ford has been detached from the Soran-
&C and ordered home.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the treasury ball
ances at the close of business to-day {:
Currency, $l1, ,0l0,029; coin. $69,773,-
or; coin certifcats, $32. .559, 800.
Died from His Wounds.
Johnny Keegan, of Philadelphia,
who was fatally wounded during the
performance of the farce "Obeying
Orders at the Metropolitan Hall, in
this city, on the night Of June % last,
died yesterday afternoon. Keegans
father came on from Philadelphia and
demanded an investigation, which will
be commenced tomorrow.
Ship Yard at Alexandria.
The project started some time since
for establishing first class ship yard
at Alexandria, Virginia, has taken
definite shape, many of the leading
citizens having signifed their willing
ness to subscribe. A site has been Be-
lected and its purchase ordered.
Inter-0ceauic Canal Across the 18th.
mus OF Darien.
There is a prospect that the long
talked OF inter.oceanic canal across the
Isthmus of Darien, uniting the waters
of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, will
become a fixed fact and the route Of
the canal will be that known as the
Napipi route, 80 thoroughly surveyed
by Commander Selfridge in 1871. The
profits and estimates Of this route have
been submitted to the inspection Of
some of the most eminent engineers In
this country, all of whom endorse
the project. The President takes
great personal interest in the matter
and will give all his Influence. The
benefit that would accrue to this coun-
try as well as Europe and South
America, by the completion Of this, can
scarcely be estimated. The estimated
cost Of the canal ia a fraction over one
hundred and twenty.three million dol
lars, much less than the estimates for
any other route on the continent, and
the advantages OF this route are very
superior to all others. ...