The New York herald., 1874-11-03
ASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Nov. q 1874
Reduction OF Tonnage Rates Through
the suez Canal.
The Treasury Department has issued circulars TO
collectors OF customs and others, asking them TO
bring to the attention OF masters and owners or
American vessels likely to pass through the Suez
Canal the fact that the imperial government Of
Turkey and the Suez Canal Company have adopted
the suggestion Of the International Tonnage Com
MISSION held at Constantinople In the year 1873
In regard to the uniication OF tonnage and the de-
duction OF one franc per ton from the regular
canal dues In the case OF all vessels which are
measured according TO the Moorsom system now
In use In this country, and which are provided
with special certificate by competent authority,
exhibiting the gross tonnage OF the ship and the
deductions therefrom authorized by the regu-
lations OF the commission. In order that the
owners OF American vessels may take advantage
or the reduction Of the ordinary rates OF dues,
under the circumstances mentioned, the Treasury
Department has prepared form for q special
certificate, which will be furnished by collectors
when applied for by masters or owners OF such
vessels proceeding abroad.
Appropriations Asked for by the Engi-
ncers' Department.
General Humphreys, in his report, asks for the
following, among other appropriations for the
Pacific coast for the year ending June, 1875 For
the fort At Fort Point, $4,000; tort Lime Point.
$4,000; tort at Alcatraz Island. $50, ,O00 No ap-
pr0prtatiOns are asked for batteries at San jose
and Angel Island the fort at San Diego and for
the removal OF Rncon Rock. An appropriation
OF 600 s asked for the delences at the mouth OF
Columbia River. The Board OF Engineers for the
Pacific Coast has completed the examination OF the
project for the protection OF the OF the per-
manent seacoast defence at Fort Point, Lime
Point and at Alcatraz Island, and the examina-
tion OF San Diego Harbor for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning the amount Of sediment brought into the
harb0r by the floods in San Diego River. In refer
ence to their examination OF the Sacramento, San
Joaquin and Tulare Valleys in California, with
reference to the irrigation Of the valleys, the en-.
gineers say the cost OF such irrigation would be
very great, but the value OF the lands would
thereby be increased many tlmes The work
should not be undertaken without aid from the
general government or State governments, and
there should first be an experimental survey.
Redemption OF the Five-Twenty Bonds
of 1864.
The Secretary Of the Treasury, in the thirteenth
call for the redemption OF fve-twenty bonds Of
1852 says:-
II hereby give notice that the principal and
accrued interest or the bonds hereinbefore desg-
mated, known as hve-twenty bonds. will be paid at
the Treasury OF the United States, In the city or
Washington, on and after the I'd day of February
1876 and that the interest said bonds will cease
on that day. That is to say, coupon bonds known
as the fourth series, act OF February 2 1862 dated
May l, 1862, as lollows-Coupon Donds $50, No.
4201 to No. A961, both inclusive; $780, No. 62O1 to
No. 10000, both inclusive; $500, No. 5,OO1 to No.
1000, both inclusive; $1,000 No. 14,oO1 to No.
10000, both inclusive. Total. $5,O0O,OOO The
amount outstanding embraced in the numbers as
above) is $5,0OO,00O OF coupon bonds"
The Torpedo System.
The Board Of Engineers in their report on the
subject of torpedoes for harbor defence, say that,
in their opinion. the system IL satisfactory, and
that stores for applying it should be collected at
the depot at Mllett's Point.
Ignorance I'm the South-Report and
Recommend ation OF the Comm issioner
of Education.
The annual report OF the Hon. John Eaton,
United States Commissioner of Education, makes
volume OF $40 printed pages He concludes as
follows:-"In view OF the appalling number Of
children growing up in ignorance on account OF
the impoverished condition OF portions Of the
country in which slavery has been lately abolished
and In view OF the special difficulties in the way OF
establishing and maintaining therein schools for
universal education and in consideration or the
need OF immediate action in this regard, recon-
mend that the whole or portion of the net pro-
ceeds arising from the sale OF public lands shall be
set aside as q special fund and It's interest be
divided annually, pro rata, between the people of
the several states and Territories ana the District
Of Columbia, under such provisions in regard to
the amount allotment, expenditure and super
vision as Congress In its wisdom may deem
prOper,u