The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1873-12-26

ming of the work to the LIST of July last, is
81, 058, S73. The extent Of line surveyed is
1888 miles and, in addition, 1850 Of river re-
connoissance. The amount received from
passengers on the road Gin Minnesota and
Washington territory is SIS, 551; for trans
portion OF freight 1885,, $40, which includes
few days Of the earnings in June, 1873 in Da-
kota. The expenses of the road and fixtures
has been $40, 092, $50, and the indebtedness Of
the company is $29, 309 1877. The word 60 ex-
pense, as used above, is said by the company
to mean the cost of the road proper and its
fixtures only. The cempany's report states
that on Oct. l, 1873, trains we're running regu-
larry (both passenger and freight, engaged
in the general tariff from Lake Superior to
the Missouri river, a distance of 452 miles,
and from Kalama, on the Columbia river,
northward 65 miles of track has been laid, and
Is miles more nearly graded, which, when
completed (about the LIST of December this
year,, will make a continuous road from the
Columbia river to Puget Sound, los miles.
On the 9th of last January you accepted the
first 228 miles of the Northern Pacific railroad
in Minnesota (from its junction with the
Lake Superior and Mississippi railroad near
Thompson, to the Red river of the North), and
on the 10th of September, 1873, IS miles of
the road in Washington territory, "on lis main
line, between the city OF Portland, Oregon,
and its western terminus On Puget Sound.
The report of the commissioners appointed to
examine the completed portion of the road
(195 miles) in Dakota territory has not been
received.
On the 18th of March last, you accepted 1856
35-1O0 miles of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
railway, from the sc 76-10O miles south of the
southern boundary line of Kansas to Red
River near Preston, Texas. Total number of
miles accepted, 342 81 100 1 accepted on the
4th of September last, "a 28-1O0 miles of the
Cairo and Fulton railroad, living between Lit
tie Rock, in Arkansas, and the southern boun-
dairy of Missouri Application having been
made for the examination of the portion of
this road lying between Little Rock and Fulton,
commissioners have been appointed for that
purpose, but their report has not yet been re-
ceived.
You accepted, Nov l. 1872, the final portion
(50$4 miles) of the Burlington and Missouri
River abroad in Nebraska, reported on by the
commissioners on the 30th of October of that
year This makes total accepted line in that
state of 90s4 miles. That portion of the Mem
phis and Little Rock railroad, from the west
side of the st. Francis river to a point oppo-
site the city of Little Rock, on the north
bank of the Arkansas river, called "Argenta,"
81 ITO miles, was accepted by the department
on the 9Th of last March.
OF the Yellowstone national park the sec
rotary says: I deem it incumbent on me to
refer to the present unprotected condition of
the Yellowstone national park. No appropri-
alton has yet been made for the purpose of
opening the park to the public, and of enabling
this department to carry into effect the rules
and regulations for its government. I am in
formed that the park has been visited during
the past summer by many persons, and that it
has been despoiled by them of great quantities
of its mineral deposits and other curiositles
A superintendent of the park was appointed
in May, 1872, but there being no appropriation
from which his compensation could be paid
his services have necessarily been gratuitous
and he could not be expected, under such cir
cumstances, to reside permanently in the park.
Applications have been made by various par
ties for permission to erect buildings and to
construct roads in the park. The act of March
list, confers upon me the necessary author
ity to grant leases for building purposes, but
no leases have been granted, for the reason
that sufficient information has not been OBJ
tanned as to the responsibility of the several
applicants. 1t appears to me to be eminently
proper that early steps should be taken by
congress for the protection of this great ma
tional wonder from the vandalism of curiosity
hunters. This department should not be held
responsible for the condition of the park, go
long as there is no money under it's control ap-
plicable to the ends contemplated in the act of
March 1, 1872. The boundaries OF the park
should be properly surveyed and located,
as many persons desire to enter and settle
upon public lands contiguous thereto.