The New York herald., 1874-11-02
WASHIIJGTON.

WASHINGTON. Nov. I, 1874
Two Millions or Gold To Be Sold In
November.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has directed the
Assistant Treasurer at New York TO sell $4,000 OF
gold on each Thursday during the month or No
vember. The aggregate amount OF sales win be
$2,0o0.00O.
Progress or tho Adjudication or the
Southern Claims.
The Commissioners OF Southern Claims are now
engaged taking testimony. The entire number
OF claims presented to the Commissioners is over
22,O00 only 5,254 OF which have been adjudicated.
year ago the aggregate amount OF the claims so
passed upon $40 224 1886. leaving be disposed
Of 1900 claims amounting to $50 000. 900. Several
millions or dollars have been appropriated and
PAID In satisfaction OF the over 5000 claims above
referred to- and reported to Congress by the Com
missioners. The number to be reported to Con.
gress next wnser will not be so large as hereto
fore. Many OF the claimants placed their respect
tive claims at very high figures, such the facts
presented did not justify. and therefore there was
an extensive reduction BY the Commissioners As
instances, one man claimed $4,000 and was cut
down to So, 800, and another VINO claimed 5000
received only $loS. These claims, IL win be recol.
lected, arise from seizures and destruction of
property owned by Union men in the Southern
States. The question OF loyalty is an essential ele-
claims expired on the Sd Of March, 1873. bill is
pending in Congress to extend the time for this
purpose, many persons not having heard Of the
limit.
department Clerks Going Home to Vote.
It is estimated that about 600 persons Temporal
rily resident In Washington, and principally en-
poycd in government departments, will on Tues
day vote In the respective States OF which they are
citizens A number left here several days ago.
and others are now following The interest IN the
result OF the election Is on the increase.
The Reduction OF tho Army.
The War Department, In accordance with the
law, Is reducing the personnel OF the army to
$4,000 men, there being now about q, 900 in SER
vice. The reduction will leave one of1cer-com-
mssioned and non-commissioned-to every eleven
men, the law having made no provision for the
reduction OF ofricers. According to an order OF
the War Department non-commissioned oficers
and meritorious pr1vates may re.ennst at the
posts where they may be stationed. This saves
the expense OF transportation.
Report OF Chief OF Engineers Hum
phroys-Estimates for the Next Fiscal
Year.
The report OF General Humphreys, chief of the
corps Of army engineers, has been completed. II
the works under his charge and gives estimates OF
the amount necessary to complete those now In
progress. It Is with Congress, however, to deter.
mine how far the works shall be extended during
the next fiscal year. The estimates AFFORD no
certainty of the amounts which will be appropri-
ated, Congress appropriated less than $500 900
for fortincations for the fiscal year ending with
June last. the estimates being $3eoo 900; and for
Improvement OF rivers and harbors for the same
period S. $4,000. the estimates being SIS, Co., ooo
An appropriation of 100000 was asked for con.
tinutng the Improvement and removing obstruc-
tions In the East River and Reli Gate, New York,
but the amount voted was $225 900. The Chief OF
Engineers will repeat his recommendation regard.
ing all the work alluded 10 In his former report.