The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-12-06

Ito pldces, hppfOpfldunS IL tOtdl Ol So,-ol,
in addition to the balance available from pre-
vious appropriations. Upon the approval of
projects submitted by the various subordinate
engineer officers, steps were taken for putting
the works at once into execution, and they are
now being conducted under the contract sys-
tenn, or by means of hired labor and the pur-
chase of material in open market, as appeared
TO be the most advantageous III any particular
instance to the Government
FOREIGN MAILS.
J. H. Blackfan, Superintendent of Foreign
Mails shows that the total cost of the United
States ocean mail service for the wear ended
June 80 was sl97,276, being a reduction of s10,-
80 from the cost of the preceding year. The
report embraces an elaborate account of the
proceedings of the late postal convention at
Paris and the action taken by the representa-
tives of the United States-Messrs. Tyner and
Blackfan-at that meeting. The total weight of
mails dispatched from the United States to
postal union foreign countries during the fiscal
year was, of letters, 3, AGO. III ounces and of
printed matter and samples IA, 52s, s62 ounces,
being an increase over the preceding wear of
116, lA ounces in letters and 121 @ 915 ounces of
printed matter and samples. The number of
letters exchanged with countries not embraced
in the general postal uniOn-the Dominion of
Canada excepted-was 691, Dol
REPORT OF THE COMMISSARY GENERAL.
Commissary General Macfeely's report to the
War Department shows that the total amount
disbursed for subsistence stores during the
fiscal year ended June 3Olast was s3,5l0,55 of
which S1,Ol1, 747 was reimbursed by sales of
stores to officers and enlisted men, S3l ,S24 was
paid by the Interior Department for supplies
furnished TO Indians; So, S43 was collected for
tobacco sold to enlisted men, and the balance
was furnished to the department by the Con-
gressional appropriation
From the tables accompanying the report it
appears that there was marked decline IN the
cost of the components of the army ration dur
lug the past year, as compared with the preced-
ing twelve months, and the estimates for APP
preparations were reduced accordingly
QUARTERM1STER GENERALS REPORT.
The report of Quartermaster General Meigs
contains large amount of statistical informa-
ton, and makes several recommendations The
total acquisitions from his Office during the ifs
cal year ended June so last amounted TO
SIP, 1g2 603 The department moved during
the year, 1920 passengers, II 400 beasts and
l09,26l tons of military material The depart
ment bought 2,251 horses and ,l62 mules dur
ing the year, at an average cost of Sll1 for the
former and $50 for the latter There were
,315 horses and 9,6SS mules in the army on
the 3Oth of June, and the forage consumed was
as follows: Sf9 600 bushels of corn, / 100. 900
bushels of oats, 10000 bushels of barley,
81, 100 tons of hay and :, 800 tons of straw.
TREASJRER GILFTLLAN'S REPORT.
United States Treasurer Gillian, in his re-
port TO Secretary Sherman, makes no recon-
mendations for legislation to be submitted to
Congress. Upon examination of the law he
finds that the Treasurer of the United States is
required to communicate directly with Congress
upon the third day of every regular session,
setting forth the condition Of the treasury.
Though this law has been in Existence several
been
piled with. The Treasurer says he will have
the required statement prepared and presented
to Congress on Wednesday, Dec. 1, showing the
condition of the treasury up to noon OF that day.
THE RETENJE MARINE BUREAU.
The annual report of the Revenue Marine
Bureau of the Treasury Department shows that
of the vessels wrecked or in distress, with an
aggregate of 926 persons on board, 1872 have
been assisted by revenue cutters. The estimated
value of the property saved Is about 81, tOO,OOO,
and l42 persons were actually rescued from
death by drowning. The expenses OF the reye-
marine service for the year ended June 81,
1873 were sS4300l The number of vessels
in the service is thirty-seyen.
REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE
CURRENCY.
The Comptroller of the Currency devotes a
considerable portion of his report to defense
of the national banking system. He says that
the losses of depositors through savings banks
during the last year exceeded the losses of de-
positors in national banks for the entire period
during which the latter have had an existence
Tables showing the rate of taxation of ths
national banks and the amount of their profits
accompany the report.
THE APPOINTMENT OFFICE.
The report of the Appointment Office of the
Postoffice shows that during the past year there
have been 21S4 postoffices established and
ST. discontinued, making an increase i'm the
total number of ,9l3. The total number of
offices i'm operation June so, 1873 was 1925.
OF these. 1870 were filed by Presidential APP
monument. and 37,6SS Postmasters hold an
pointments from the Postmaster General. The
humber of appointments made on designations
and expiration of commissions was Sir.
There were AS removals of Postmasters. and
33S deaths.
REPORT or THE SURGEON GENERAL.
The annual report of Surgeon General Barnes,
United States army, has been submitted to the
Secretary of War. 1t shows that there were
disbursed during the year, for medicinal and
hospital supplies, s46, O0l.0l; expenses of pur-
yeving depots. 1861 %: nav ~ emniavas