The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence TO The Republican .
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 10, 1878.

Montgomery Blair finds his party
disposed to shrink from any respon-
sibility for the bantliDg he introduce
ed to the notice Of the Maryland
Legislature recently, crying and
clamoring for the undoing of "the
great fraud" perpetrated by the
Electoral Commission. Gen. Butler
promptly disavoved any sympathy
for the movement, and the effort
made to identify Senator Conkling
with it has proved miserable fail
ure; and if Blair has any reputation
left susceptible of being damaged by
any wicked revolutionary project
that he seems SO capable Of originat-
ing, this, his latest faurpas, is thought
likely to give it the finishing stroke.
The reconveuing of Congress at
tracted but little attention, though it
has had an enlivening and animatipg
effect upon all classes. Wood sue
ceeded in forcing through his drag
net investigation resolution, and we
may expect all necessary legislation
to be dropped as it was two years
ago, in the shameless made hunt for
some Republican official who can be
made to appear as officially remiss in
some way that may be made to con-
tribute to the eXigencieS of the bull
doing, Tammany theiving Democ-
racy. The assurance and brazen ef-
frOntery animating the leading spir-
its of that notorious combination
could not be better shown than by
thrusting Fernando Wood to the
front in the character ola performer r."
Senator Conkling has formally no.
tilted Runkle and Draper that the
validity Of the Presidential Depart
mental action had, restoring them to
the Army and Navy, from which
they We're dismissed or We're per.
mitted, as great favor, to resign,
will be tested in the Senate, for the
double purpose probably, of barring
way Of scores now waiting to take
advantage of the precedent establish
ed in the cases of those named. to Sc
cure. their restoration to positions
forfeited Ivy their own misconduct
and to protect the Treasury from
raids based on claims for back paw
for which rot one hours service has
ever been rendered.
The Mexican LOBBY has fattened
out like pancake under the testi-
mony of SIade, Shafter and Bulls
and the heads of the Indian Bureau
employees are continually falling in
to the basket in consequence of the
revelations of the Commission ap-
pointed to investigate that model
concer.
The work of the Hayden surveys
are making us familiar with hereto
fore unknown regions, rich in min
erals and Of great agricultural and
grazing capacity. 1t extends from
Arizona to Montana, embracing the
Territories of Utah, Colorado, Wyo.
ming, Idaho and Dakota. The ex-
petition when in the field is compos-
ed OF about 40 persons, including
scientists, packers, cocks and labor
ers and it is generally divided into
several parties, each fully equipped
and prepared to examine a specific
area Of country, usually about 10000
square miles, more or less, depending
upon the character of country to be
examined. The field season usually
lasts about months, when the labor
ers are discharged at the starting
point, the scientists returning here
for office duty.
This survey has issued a series of
reports, presenting the results in a
popular form, for general distribu-
ton. A series of quarto volumes are
also issued, embracing purely scien-
tific matters, for distribution TO col
leges, libraries and scientific special.
lists. A series of Bulletins are also
issued in which matters requiring
special and immediate attention may
be found. There are also the miscel-
laneous publications, such as meteor
ology, distances and attitudes, cata.
logues, &c. I.
AS an illustration of the esteem and
appreciation in which the work ac-
complished is held abroad, l quote
Gen. Richard Strachey, of the Royal
Engineers of England to a gentleman
of high scientific attachments in this
country: . l..
ut is an undertaking in all respects
most honorable to your Government
and to the men OF science who have
been their agents in carrying it out.
In truth it is, believe, the only
really scientific survey OF great
country ever entered upon"
UNDINE.