The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-11-22
WASHINGTON,

A government vessel has been placed
at the disposal Of the city of New Orleans
for the improvement of the harbor there.
The secretary of war has ordered Mai
Benyaurd to remove the raft in Red river
above Shreveport and keeps the river open.
The house committee on postoflices and
pOstrOads will recommend an appropriation
to pay all ante.beum southern mail con.
tractors heirs or representatives. the balances
due for transportation of mails up to the 3lst
of May, 1861.
The senate has confirmed the nOmina.
ton of John Welsh to be envoy extraor>
dinary and minister penipOtentary to
England. His nomination was reported
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 lnfringed.
The public debt has been reduced dur
ing October q little more than four million
and quarter, of which about two millions
and half is accounted for by the retirement
and cancellation of legal.tender notes. The
coin balance in the treasury, against which
there are no liabilities, and which is, there's
lore, available for purposes OF resumption,
amounts to sIxty.fOur million dOllars-an
increase for the month nearly twelve million.
Five.eights OF the gold balance needed to
resume have already been secured.
A large number of grants for railroads
have expired by limitation, and il Is regarded
important that action should be taken by
congress either to enforce 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 and pre-
emtlon laws and from sale except for cash;
also that the secretary of the interior be au-
thorzed to sell timber from the public lands
In the mining districts; also to sell timber
upon any unsurveyed land not mineral when
needed Tor actual settlement before public
surveys; also that a law he enacted provid-
ing for the care and custody of timber lands
unht for agriculture, and for the gradual
sale OF agriculture, and for the gradual sale
OF timber and for the perpetuaton oil the
growth OF timber on such lands legislation
authorizing seizures Of timber cut from pub
hc lands without resort to the OdiOus process
OF the courts is also recommended. The
United States marshal for the southern dis
trict OF Mssi, sippi has seized in three c)un>
tles bordering on the Gulf OF Mexico, in a
IN suit OF the United States against John
Manning and others, a large amount of tim.
her, principally pine logs, estimated at over
5000 in number. There will also be seized
large amount Of charcoal and turpentine.
Ihis action stops trade which has employed
many vessels carrying timber or lumber to
iorelgn and domestic markets. Supervising
Architect Hill 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
TENDER 3Oth for different works: Chicago
cusfsmhouse, Sl99,2S4; Cincinnati custom.
house, S2e9,lS Covington courthouse, S14, :
63O; Evansville customhouse, si0,s74; Grand
Rapids courthouse. S36,sl0; Lincoln (Neb.)
courthouse, 1910; Little Rock custom
house. s39,5Ol: Memphis customhouse.
xl0i 1853; Nashville custombouse, SCI, ,922
parkersburg wv. vs.) courthouse, 5000
Fort Huron customhouse, 81, 100; st. Louis
customhouse, $2l5,1l1. Expensive altera'
tions have been completed in The custom
mouse at Louisville and Pittsburg Estimates
iotthe ensuing year will be included in the
report oil the secretary Of the treasury.