The Osceola times., 1877-11-17

NASlHNNGI~

at the disposal of the city Sou ,".eu
for the improvement Of the h Dor there ''"'
The secretary of war has dol NJ: !
Bepyaurd to remove the raft N1e1 pi MaJ.
above shreveport and keeps thsrssr onsn ,mr'
The house committee on posi-, 90. ,nd
postroads will recommend an apfss;a.;a..
- to pay all ante-bellum southern k'"uon
t)oEactors' heirs or representatives they un. non
NJ r iSs, - NSlst |
1nts,senate has confirmed the non
ton of John WeMiSh to be envoy exts
dinary and minister Rkenip2tentIary
England. His nomination was "a 5orteA
from the foreign relations committee with
the unanimous recommendation that it be
confirmed without debate or dissenting
voice.
Representative Baker, of Indiana, has
prepared and will introduce in the house
upon the first opportunity, bill to prevent
suits being brought against farmers and
other persons who purchase for their own
use an implement or article which infringes
patent right unless the purchaser of such
implement or article knows at the time Of
the purchase that patent right is infringed.
The public debt has been reduced dur
ing October little more than four million
and quarter, of which about two millions
and half is accounted for by the retirement
and cancellation OF lega.tender notes. The
coin balance in the treasury, a yainst which
there are no liabilities, and which is, there,
fore, available for purposes Of resumption,
amounts to sixty-four million dolars-an
increase for the month nearly twelve Million
Flve-eights OF the gold balance needed to
resume have already been secured.
large nuuhpr af uraute for roilrnads
have expired by limitation, and it is regarded
important that action should be taken by
congress either to enforce a forfeiture of the
grants or extend the time for the completion
of the roads. Should the latter course be
pursued, the claims of bona fde settlers
upon lapsed lands should be protected. 1t
is recommended that congress Withdraw all
lands chiefly valuable for pine timber from
the operation of the homestead ana pre-.
emtion laws and from sale except for cash;
also that the secretary of the interior be au-
thorized TO sell timber from the public lands
in the mining districts also to sell timber
upon any unsurveyed land not mineral when
needed Ior actual settlement before public
surveys; also that a law he enacted provid-
ing for the care and custody Of timber lands
unfit for agriculture, and for the gradual
sale of agriculture, and for the gradual sale
of timber and for the perpetuaton OF the
growth OF timber on such lands legislation
authorizing seizures of timber cut from pub
lie lands without resort 10 the odious process
of the courts is also recommended. The
United States msr>hal for the southern dis.
trict Of Mississippi has seized in three c,un>
ties bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, in a
in suit Of the United States against John
Manning and others, q large amount of tim
her, principally pine logs, estimated at over
5000 in number. There will also be seized
large amount of charcoal aud turpentine.
This action stops trade which has employed
many vessels carrying timber or lumber TO
foreign and domestic markets. Supervising
Architect II i'll in his report says the granite
contracts known as the fifteen per cent.
contracts have been modified for the govern
ment buildings at Cincinnati, st. Louis and
Philadelphia. The following are the bal
ances credited TO the appropriations of sep
tember Both for different works: Chicago
cusfsmhouse, Sl99,2s4; Cincinnati custom
house, s2s9,lS5; Covipgton courthouse, Sl5, ).
$50; Evansville customhouse, Si0,S74; Grand
Rapids courthouse. $S6,si0; Lincoln (Neb.I
courthouse, s49,740; Little Rock custom
house. s39,50i: Memphis customhouse,
$10i, ,s59 Nashville customhouse, $67 ,922
Parkersburg wv. Va.) courthouse, 5000
Fort Huron customhouse, sl2, 100; St. Louis
customhouse, S2I5,1il. Expensive altera
tons have been completed in The custom
house at Louisville and Pittsbure. Estimates
for the ensuing year will be included in the
report OF the secretary OF tn treasury.