Evening star., 1877-12-29

SHORTENING THE TINE TO HAvANA-The
building of a bridge over Ashley River. rear
Charleston. :. c.. Obvi&iing the necessity OF
terrying, and making the railway connection
between New York and key NeSt, Florida,
complete. Will enable a fast mail service OF 96
hours between New York and Havana. TO go
into operation as soon a. the railroad has pre-
pared its new schedule and mali cont iact
has I cen made with tire ste imbos.t company
operating between Key Wes; and Havana.
LAND OFFICES DIsCONTINUED.-The Presi-
dent has issued an order discontinuing the
Sioux Ci;y land office. and directing that lis
business and archives be transferred to the
land office al Des MOines. Iowa. The cOnSoi-
datiOn is made because the public lands i'm
Iowa have been so generally entered that there
seems to be no sufficient reason for maintain
ing more than one land office in the state.
There are now less than 2,G0 acres of public
laEdS in Iowa fully subject To disposal by the
government. Another executive order discon-
times the Independence (CaljfoTnia) land
Office and transfers its records and business
To H." NiSalia Office.
The NEW TERRITORY OF LINCoLN.-A sub
committee of the House committee on terrific
ries has heard an argument from Delegate
COrbett. of Wyoming, in opposition To the bill
for the establishment OF the territory OF Lin
coin. Mr.. Corbett based his opposition mainly
upon the argument that the population of the
Black Hills country is not Of permanent
character. He also opposed it because it pro
within the boundaries of the proposed new ter
Tt0ry. Col. Breirly. in behalf of the Black
Hills people. will be heard in reply next Mon
day.
THE GEORGETOWN BRANCH Post OFFICE.
Mr.. j. A. JeherdS. for eight years assistant
postmaster at Richmond. Va, has been ap-
pointed by Postmaster Edmunds clerk in
charge of the Georgetown post Office. His as
SlStant viii be Mr.. Geo. EerTy. Il former clerk
III. Sawyer. j. 4. EliasUn and =. w. DelZell. are
appointed letter carriers. Twenty-nine letter
boxes VIII be put up on Monday, and the mum
lei viii I've afterwards increased if it is found
necessary. The collections from the boxes
VIII be commenced on Monday. but the deiv-
cry will not begin until Thursday. the carriers
meanwhile arranging and learning their
routes. Letters directed To street and num-
her ito persons who are not box hoderS). will
he delivered by the letter carriers. All persons
who wish their letters delivered at their resi-
denceS should notify their correspondents to
direct to street and number. Persons and firms
who are now bOX-hOlderS but wish their letters
delivered by carriers must give notice AT the
d. SIX oi the superintendent. After January l.
1875. the postage on drop letters between this
city and Georgetown will be- two cents per half
ounce.
NEW YEAR RECEPTION AT THE WHITE House.
The usual New Year reception will be held at
The Executive Mansion according to the fol-
lowing programme: At II o'clock a. IN. the
President will receive the members Of the Cab
Incl and foreign Ministers. At II 80 "A. IN. the
Judges Of the Supreme Court of the United
states, Senators and Representatives in Con
greSS. the Judges Of the Court of Claims. the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia.
the .1'dges of the Supreme Court of the Dis
tlict of Columbia, former members of the
Cabinet and former Ministers of the United
States to other countries will be received. AT
T. IN. the officers of the army and navy will he
received. AT l2;3O p IN. the Assistant Secre
taries OF Departments, the Assistant PoStmaS-
terS General. Solicitor General. Assistant Al
tOrneys General. Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution the Commissioner of Agriculture,
the Superintendent of the Coast Survey aud
the heads Qi bureaus Of the several depart
ments will he received. At 12:i5 p. IN. the As
sOciated Soldiers Of the War of 1872, the AS>o
clated Veterans of 1876, the members of the
Oldest Inhabitants Association of the District
of Columbia and a delegation Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic will be received. The
reception OF citizens will commence at one
O'Clock, IT which time the gates of the enclo-
sure viii be opened. and the reception will
tel inmate at O'Clock p. m. Carriages will
approach the Executive Mansion by the east
EN- gate and leave by the western gate,