Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-12-11
Vol. XIV. Whole No. 1926. No. 50.

necessities of the people require that some
organized form OF government over the ter
ritory OF Alaska be adopted.
There appears to be NO law for the arrest
OF persons charged with common-law Of
fences, such As assault, robbery and mur-
der, aud no magistrate authorized to Issue
or execute process 10 such cases. Serious
difficulties have already arisen from often
ces OF this character, not only among the
original inhabitants, but among citizens OF
the United States aud other countries, who
have engaged in mining, fishing, and other
business operations within the Territory.
A bill authorizing the appointment OF JUS
| tees OF the peace and constablcs, and the
| arrest aud detention OF persons charged
| with criminal offences, and providing for
an appeal TO United States courts for the
| district OF Oregon, in suitable cases, will,
at a proper time be submitted 10 Congress.
| The attention Of Congress Is called to the
annual report OF the Secretary oftbe Treas
ury on the condition OF the public finances.
| The ordinary revenues from all sources
! for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1879,
were s273 ,s2T ,lS+ 40; the ordinary expend-
/ ttureS Tor the same period were S266 947,
Ss3 50; leaving a surplus revenue for the
year OF Sc. $40 800, %.
The receipts for the present fiscal year #.
ending June 80, 1880, actual aud estimated.
are as follows; Actual receipts for the first
| quarter commencing July l, 1879, s79 ,Si3,
6eJ,b estimated receipts for the remsining
| three quarters OF the year, sos, l56, 336, 80
total receipts for the current fiscal year, ac-
tual and estimated, s2ss, 900 900.
! The expenditures for the same period
/ will be, actual and estimated, as follows:
| For the quarter commencing July /, 1879,
actual expenditures, SOL .6S3. .3s5.l0; ard
Tor the remaining three-Quarters OF the
year the expenditures are estimated At
sl12,3lo.6lt 9O-maklng the total eXpendi-
lures S264 900 900, and leaving an esti-
mated surplus revenue for the year ending
June 80, lsS0, of SCI 900 900. The total
receipts during the next fiscal year ending
June 80, 1881, estimated according to ex-
istIng laws, will be s2Ss 900 600 and the,
esumsted ordinary expenditures for the
same period will be s27s, ,097 1854 39-lesv-
ing surplus Of 80. yO2 .635. 81 Tor that year.
The large amount expended for arrears
OF pensions during the last and the present
h~caI year, amounting to S2l ,7i7, ,249 60.
has prevented the application OF the full
amount required by law to the sinking
fund Tor the current year but these arrears
having been substantially paid. 1t is be-
!leyed that the sinking fund can hereafter
be maintained without any change OF eI-
isting law.
The Secretary OF War reports that the.
War Department estimates for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1881, are $40, $780,
i2ss5 the same being for a less sum Of
money than any annual estimate rendered,
to Congress from that department during
A period OF at least twelve years
lie Concurs with the General Of the
Army IN recommending such legislation
as VIII authorize the enlistment OF the full
number OF twenty-five thousand men for
the line OF the Army. exclusive of the three
thousand tour hundred and sixty-three
men required for detached duty, aud there
fore not available for service in the field
He also recommends that Congress he
asked to provide by law for the disposition
oi large number of abandoned military
posts aud reservations, which. though yery
valuable IN themselves, have been rendered
useless Tor military purposes by the ad-
vance of civilization and settlement.
tie uultes with the Quartermaster-G Gen
eral IN recommending that an appropra-
ton be made for the construction OF a
cheap aud perfectly iire-proof building for
the sale storage OF q vast amount Of money
accounts, vouchers, claims, and other val
liable records now in the Quartermaster-
Generals ONCE, and exposed to great risk
OF total destruction BY lire.
He also recommends, In conformity with
the views OF the Judge Advocate General
some declaratory legislation in reference TO
the military statute OF limitations as ap-
piled to :he crime of deserton.
lu these several recommendations con-
eur.
The Secretary OF War further reports
that the work for the Improvement OF the
South Pass OF the Mississippi river, under
4,
pursuance OF an act OF Congress, hs. been
prosecuted during the past year, with t.
greater measure OF success in the attain
meut OF results, than during any previous
year. The channel through the South
Pass, which, at the beginning Of operations
In June, 1878, had a depth OF only seven
and one-hai feet OF water, had on the sth
OF July. 1879, minimum depth of twenty
six feet, having a width OF not less than
two hundred feet, and a central depth of
thirty feet. Payments have been made in
accordance with the statute as the work
progressed, amounting IN the aggregate to
25O 900; and further payments will be-
come due, as provided by the statute. i'm
the event of success iu maintaining the
channel now secured.
The reports OF the General Of the Army
and of hi- Subordinates, present fun and
for the suppression Of hostilties among
the Indians of the Ute and Apache tribes,
and praise Is justly awarded to the officers
and troops engaged for promptness. skill
and courage displayed.
The past year has been one Of almost un-
broken peace and quiet on the MexicsU
frontier, and there Is reason to believe that
the efforts OF this Government and OF Mex
leo, 10 maintain order in that region, viii.
prove permanently successful.
THIS Department was enabled during
the past year to find temporary though
crowded Accommodations, and a safe depos-
itory for portion of its records, In the
completed east wing OF the building, de-
signed for the State, War, aud Navy De
partments. The construction Of the north
wing of the building, part OF the strucs.
ure Intended for the use Of the War De-
partment. is being carried forward with
oil possible despatch, aud the work should
receive from Congress such liberal appro-
propriations as will secure its speedy com
pletion.
The report of the Secretary of the Nayy
shows continued Improvement 10 that
branch Of the service during the last fiscal
year. Extensive repairs have been made
upon vessels, and two new ships have been
completed and made ready for sea.
The total expenditures OF the year ended
June 80, 1879, including specific appropria-
tions not estimated for by the Department,
were sl3 $50, 1000. The expenses cbare-
able to the year, after deducting the amount
of these specific appropriations, were 9l3,-
343, ,3l7.79 but this is subject to a reduc-
tion OF s2s3 OPS. 80. that amount having
been drawn upon warrants, but not paid
out during the year The amount of ap-
propristions applicable to the last fiscal
year was GA 53S. .646.17. There wa, there
fore, a balance of 81, AIS, ,054. 81 remaining
unexpended, and to the credit Of the De-
partmsnt on June 80, 1879. The estimates
for the fiscal year endiEg June 80, 1881,
are S14 864, l47 .95, which exceeds the ap-
propriations for the present fiscal year
1851 1897 .28 The reason for this Increase
is explained 10 the Secretary's report. The
appropriations available for the present
fiscal year are GA, 500. 250,e7, which will.
10 the opinion Of the Secretary answer oil
the ordinary demands OF the service. The
amount drawn from the Treasury from
July to November l, 1879, was e5,77O,-
4O4 IL, OF which q, ,095 .440.33 has been re-
funded. leaving as the expenditure for that