The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-18

pad TN tho concIuson of suit before tho courts.
As ths principles and claims involved nave ooeh
finally acted on by the Supreme Court and Judgment
In favor OF the roads on heretofore hxeu by
the War Department has been given in every case
finally decided II is thought that II would De wise
and Just to repeal tins restrictive legislation ana allow
railroad accounts TO be settled like other accounts
for military service, without imposing on the com
panies the delay aud expenses of formal suits here
after in court the principles involved in which have
been already decided IN their favor.
The several Pacific railroads earned by military
transportation during the fiscal year $500 OO0 Their
total earnings for this service have amounted to over
$4,000. 000 Seventy contracts wore made during tho
year for transportation by teams and $3.50 tons Of
supplies wero transported In this manner. Thirty
threc thousand and passengers and &C. 00J tons
OF stores movcd by wael The cost OF transport
tho Sioux country continues great, compelling in
croases of ratios, and the rate is diminishing from
year TO year, but the supplies nocded continually In
crease though reaction oil the is expected
before many years with the establishment OF ccmmu-
mites able 10 protect themselves against tho savages
Two thousand, two hundred ana ntty-onc horses
and !, l62 mules were purchased by the department.
during The year nj an average cost OF Sill Tor The
former and $3.50 Tor the latter There were ll,315
horses and 9,6SS mules IN Tho army on the 3Olh OF
June, ana the forage consumed was as iolows:--
3d. 900 bushels OF corn, 100000 bushels OF oats,
1856 00e bushels OF barley 0C0 tons OF hay and 800
tons OF straw. The purchases OF iuel amounted to
$1,000 cords OF wood and 3S 900 tons OF coal.
The work claims for
furnished during tho war OF tho rebellion has
been resumed the act OF July l. 1864, and the
appropriation OF last November and 222 claims
disposed OF during the fiscal year. OF these there
wore 1896 Claiming 81 TALBOT totally rejected. and
those which were allowed were reduced IN amount
IRON SGo2 SIC to $3.50, 0S4 Theroremanod on file Juno
80 II, go OF claims agg-egang IS, 960 IT..
Tho average cost Of investigating the claims ais
posed oil was about $50 each. In addition to these
claims (which originated III the border States and
irrespective OF many thousand claims there about
twelve Thousand unsettled claims file, calling Tor
about 81, 100000 not affected by tho act Of July 4,
1864 which requires proof OF loyalty, &c.
The Quartermastor General invites attention to the
danger OF destruction by fire OF those and many
| other records OF great value to Tho government
ana its citizens, and urges that cheap but
1rcproof building be constructed ~ u hall OF
convenient to the moro elaborate and costly
buildings occupied by the Executive Department.
and thus TO guard against such losses MS lately &C.
| Cured at mo Patcnt ONCE. He submits plan OF
such building to cost about 500. O00 and proposes
that tho records not in daily OF the several de-
parlmcnts stored In It, under charge OF competent
supesn endents to be properly fled and easy OF ac-
/ receipt OF telephone orders, &c
General Megs reports That tho removal OF divisions
and department headquarters TO military posts
CURED by the recent OF Congress, has caused
siderable expenditures to provide suitable accommo-
dations, and continues to mako unusual demands on
| The appropriations Tor barracks and quarters.