Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-09-06
WASHINGTON.

SIIIING Bull SOARING THE GOVERNMENT
Dispatches from Washington of Aug
31st state that there is considerable ey-
cltement at the war department over
Sitting Bulls return to this country, as
1t Is feared he will effect a junction with
Joseph and other hostileS. and a general
Indian war be the result. In this con
nection comes UP the question of the
alleged inadequacy of the present mill
tary forces of the government. 1t was
remarked at the war department thi.
morning that the government is sorely
perplexed upon the question of making
an army of twenty thousand do the
work of fifty thousand men. The mill
tary authorities do not feel themselves
justified in removing the garrisons at
the various points in the states threat
ened by the recent labor strikers, and
the force in the Indian country is
TOTALLY INADEQUATE
to Il vigorous prosecution of the war IN
stituted by Chief Joseph, much less
equal to the complications growing out
of the resumption of the field by Sitting
Bull and force of not less than one
thousand. The military strength of the
regular army in Montana, Wyoming and
Idaho, available for offensive operations
Is less than three regiments. There is
no possibility of preventing junction
OF the war parties of Sitting Bull and
Joseph, which junction will undoubted-
ly leadto
AN INDIAN WAR WIDESPREAD
in ItG ra,1on and ,,,oc+ o,,,, 4
There are serious fears that intelligence
from the Indian country during the next
few days will be saddened by details of
terrible massacres. Dispatches received
at the war department indicate that
there already exists widespread alarm
on the frontier, and it is hoped, taking
counsel from their fears, the settlers will
retire with their families and possessions
to places of security. Reinforcements
have been ordered to-day in accordance
with the suggestions OF Gen. Sherman
on yesterday. 1t is confidently believed
that these Indian troubles, combined
with those upon the Mexican border,
will form successful basis for asking
for an increase of salary.
THE DRAWBACK ON SUGAR.
A special treasury commission has
been appointed whose object is to de-
termine the question whether the draw
back upon refined sugar, which is now
taxed at $3.50 per pound, shall be reduced
OF not. The New York custOm-housc
commissioners, in their report. recon-
aTcduction of the drawback on
refined sugar to three cents per pound,
while on the other hand, the New York
refiners have filed a petition to the de-
partment, asking that the drawback be
left at the rates now fixed Other re-
finers in different parts ef the country
allege that the amount of drawbacks
which they receive on refined sugar is
not equivalent to the amount of duties
paid upon sugar, and they desire the
secretary of the treasury to make the
amount Of drawbacks proportionate to
the amount of duties paid at the time of
The present attitude of
the department is in accordance with
the last order notifying the public
that after October all sugars which
arc artiticially colorcd will be compelled
to pay the duty attached by law to such
sugar as it would be without such arti-
ficial coloring. 1t, is intended as time
ly warning that after the date above
named the sugars referred to, if artifi-
cially colored, will be subject to seizure
lust the same as other articles which arc
misrepresented with the intention of de-
frauding the revenue. Until Oct. l the
government will collect the same duty
on artlficially cOlored sugar, i'll proper
ton to It's grade as when divested of its
cOloring.
THE MEXICAN BORDER.
n gentlemen III the city who is very
familiar with the situation on the Mexi-
can border says that Diaz cannot muster
enough strength to carry out the promi-
ses of cooperation with our forces in
putting down the border thieves. He
says that almost the entire population
Of the northern provinces is made up of
thieves and their friends. For Diaz to
pursue, capture, and return
Mexican marauders to the federal au-
5horities, would be to make revolution
the entire northern
revolution that he
would be powerless to put down;
20 that sooner or later he firmly believes
hat this government will be absolutely
forced to take possession of the north
arn provinces and carry out President
Polk's plan for a permanent peace The
will wait until every ex-
pedient is exhausted and then ask for
IN increase Of the army and get ready /
for final settlement of these difficult |
les. They regard the majority of the /,
cases reported from the border as great /
y exaggerated by people who only de- /
sire to create trouble. They will give |
Diaz the fullest of opportunities before /
wen discussion of extreme measures. !
The intention of asking for an increase
IF the army IS the first official declara- |
ion of an intention to do more than
ak. Meanwhile, with our small army |
with prospective general In /
liam war, the administration people |
hink this very bad time to talk about /
leedlessly incurring more trouble until I
congress has signified its intention in /
he matter
Bequests for Yale.
By the death of Mrs. Caroline NJ. .
street, of this city, which happened last +
hight, several bequests valued at about +
$50, 900 60 into effect in favor of the
81