New-York tribune., 1874-07-08
WISHING TON.
THE EXPLORATIONS WEST OF THE .OSE HUND-
RErH MERIDIAN.
WAsuISGTOS Tuesday July 7, 1874


The following fare the latest particulars about me
geographical exploration and surveys west Of the lOOth
meridian:
The wheeler Expedition is taking the field II will
concentrate Pueblo, Colorado about the l5th lhst
moving three separate divisions, Whicn
viii occupy portions OF southwestern COLORADO ahu
Northern New Mexico Tle prlncipH portion OF ,S rtS
be occupied hes south OF the 3Sh parae OF horn
latitude in the vicinity OF the Rio san juan anu Luo
northern tributaries OF the Rio Grande, kio Chana'
PecOs aud Canadian region especially interesting
OF the routes or communication pushing lOI
ward toward Northern New-A Mexico anu Arizona,
and the mineral developments coming ,,is iisuto
prominence through late prospecting In addition
10 these main portions OF tDe eApeIat11}II' }I
astronomical parties, one IN charge OF DIT JOnn ~
Clark astronomer with assistant nc the OBSERVATORY
at Ogden, Utah, and another under DR.. f. L. ktmpi,
with two assistants. Will determine he ~
ordinates Las Vegas ana Cimmaron, y. NJ, 9llneg
Barracks, JuesDurg ana the crosslnS Oi az Tn
Pacific Railroad by the one-hundrtdtB ~ ;,oe
Nebraska, special party. 10 consist OF PROT T. u 1ope'
PaleOnOlogst and Naturalist and Dr. H. e narrow, III
charge OF sue Natural history olanCn vi an Cio 80 n,
ana assistant. viii visit certain speclned areas ~
the valleys OF the Canadian rivers Rlo PecOs, hlO
Grande and Rio san Juan PrOf. cope ~, rs
well known for his extensive researches IN the
domain Vertebrate PaieOntoOgy and Is following ou9
the line otdemarkaion between extinct @ @ an
inyertebnte fossil remains The man DIVISION wiz con-
charge; Lieut. c. W. Whippe assistant aud SIX clVllan
as,Istants The first party OF Division No. 10 consist
with three civilian assistants. The second party 70 CON
sst OF Second Lieut. Rogers Birnle IN charge ana hye
civilian Ile second DIVISION, hrst party
First Lieut.. Philip NJ. Price, Corps OF Engineers IN
charge, ana four civilian assistants second party
O.
Infantry in charge with three civilian assistants.
special party consisting OF Dr. j. T. kothrock Dotanls
the field May and operating IN portions OF Last
ern Arizona and Western NewMexlco. Ine above eNpe
diou l. made up Of different parties and covers
very wide and extensive field, and IT, contributions VIII
augment the geographical inquiries tAat axe no" oeHs
made throughout the world
THE DISTRICT COMMISSION
The new District Commissioners had another long
session to-day and continued investigation into the
affairs OF the late District Government. Telegrams
were sent to Norton Bliss Il Co., the First National
Bank Of New-York, and other banks where loans have
been hypothecated by the late District Government,
requesting them TO present their for settle
ment Il has been ascerained that It will require about
s225OO 10 pay the interest due on July I; $4,000 to
redeem the securities pledged and nearly S6OOJO TO pay
the clerical force and wOrkmen OF the late District
Government thus exhausting nearly all Of the appropr
alton Of ST. 900 made at the last session OF Congress-
Messrs Dennison, Blow, and Ketchum, the newly
appointed Commissioners OF the District OF Columbia
having completed their preliminary examination OF the
a irs OF the District. unanimously agreed upon gen
era system OF rctrenchment This afternoon they pro-
mulgated a OF orders which will immediately
effect the following changes in the District Offices OF the
Government:
The accounts and duties Of The Auditor OF the Board
OF Public Works are transferred Auditor or the
District Those OF the Assessor OF the Board OF PuDo
Works arc transferred the superintendent OF Asses
menrs and 10 the Collector OF the District the As
SCISSOR OF Board OF Public Works having heretofore
performed the duties. both or the asstssmeht anu
collection OF for special improvements Ile DOCKS
ana accOusts OF the Treasurer OF the Board OF PuDo
Works transferred 20 the controller OF me Dslct
aud all moneys ana securities now IN the treasury OF
Board directed TO be deposited III the Lreasy
OF the United States subject 10 the ordef VI Tue OoS
sOners. 80 ,- , A., ,... -,
the Engineer the Commission, Lieut.. Hoxle Of the
un,ted states CoPS ~ tne Board Of P9bne WORKS
are discharged. These number about l5O
glneers, clerks, &c. some Of whom however, are
reapponted In the reorganization OF the Engineers
of the District abolished their duties being deyOlyed
on the present Controller OF me District. Tue
Drputy Collector OF Taxes and Deputy Auditor are to-
tally abolished. The offices OF Secretary ana Treasurer
OF the Fire Department and OF Pubic schools, are also
aboshed aud their duties far they relate % dis
bursemens are imposed on the CONTROLLER Oh the Dis
The care and supervision Of all the public buildings
occupied by Government OF the District are com
mtted 10 the Engineer OF lhe Commission. me Houts
Of business OF all District officers ordered 20
he from 10 clock No increase OF compensation will
are imposed by these The office OF the Treas
nrer OF the District OF Columbia IS also abolished the
Commissioners intending 10 make the United states
Treasury the depository OF all mnds coming into their
possession. Gen. William Brney OF Philadelphia Is
appointed Assistant District Attorney
THE ABOLITION OF MILEAGE TO CIVIL OFFICERS
AND CLERKS
The law OF the of Congress Just closed prohb
ting the communication OF mileage ana providing FOR the
pavmeut 10 civic officers and employees Of the Govern
ment Of only their actual expenses OF travel. when on
the public service, much more OF reform than was
expected. The payment or mileage was one OF tho
yreatest abuses OF small nature that existed in the
Government and when the amounts are considered II
ia by no means a small matter The rule was 20 pay
civil officers employees travelling on the business Of
the Government cents mile each way. Thus, trip
10 sau Francisco would cost the Government about 500
whereas It would individual less than half that
sum. II Is estimated that officer under the
former practices has increased his income about s. 600
year several years past Tnis officer Is engaged IN
travelling about half his time, gong now Orleans
nowto ST. Louis and Chicago, now Nebraska, almost
Maine ana thence TO various sections IN New England
and through the south. Under the old practice trip
10 Ney-York cost Government S4S, and 10 may
be made less than half that sum- IL was matter OF
so much profit that II became matter OF favor regu-
ary sought after favored clerks and minor officers.
sent here and there about the counryr
when the mail telegraph. or the express would have
done the business as we'll Accounts now nave ~ give
the exact expenses, sworn to be correct
The TRANSPORTATION OF MAILS.
The sus-Comm.ttee OF tne Senate Committee Trans
nortation will soon begin further investigation into
All the questions between the railroad .compa
MES and the Government IN relation TO the compensa
ou for carrying mails. The report OF Senator Mitchell
10 the full Committee Just been printed and mas
ceyed the approval OF his associates. The Committee
is 70 sit some time during the recess to prepare bill
dxiug the new rates based on the space
mails the speed and frequency OF the service
ni drtulng the right Of eminent domain whereby the
r'',hts nf tne Government may be fully protected
ns anv hostile action upon any railroad IA future
"a r.fsing 10 accede 10 such rcasOnabs terms and
rangemeuts as the boVefninen1 1y PISeSIioo Lor ZIG
TRANSFORMATION OF mails.
THE POSITION OF TIRE COURTMARTIAL N GEN
HOWARD's CASE.
Gen o. o. Howard makes the following statement
concerning the position OF the his
First the court were unanimous ia the report Of
facts second they unanimous III tue nrst point OF
the nn,niuu-tuat s. that was guilty upon legal
terhnc or moral responsibility in any OF the ofcnses
charged" third they were unanimous upon the second
nont but upon the third point with regard TO the iu
ssr,nent of certain public moneys IN United states