The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-12-15

.elallA -nEuiLGA 4AAotuill ioti~lHto va .
2200o specimens, and are unique in
the completeness with which both
military surgery and diseases of ar
mics are illustrated. Their de true
t.on 6ould he an irrepara5le loss.
not 10 the United States but 10 the
world. There are filed in the record
and pension division. over 1900
bound volumes Of hospital records,
to-cther wi,h "a great quantity o!
Hascrs. embracing the original rec .
ords oi the hospitals of our armies
during the civil war. Aside from
their historical value, these records
are daily searched for evidence need
al IN the settlement Of large num
hers Of pension and other claims,
i1r the protection OF the government
against attempted frauds. rs well as
for the benefit Of honest claimants.
These yalua lc collections are now
ia q building which IS peculiarly
exposed to the dangers OF destruc-
ton bv fire. Il Is therefore earnest
/ " recommended that an appropri-
alton be made for new tire-proof
building, adequated for the present
needs and reasonable future eXpan-
-ions OF these valuable collections.
such a building should be absolute
lv iire-proof; 30 expenditure for
ilnere architectural display Is requir-
led. Il Is believed that a suitable
4 structure can be erected at a cost not
/ to exceed $4,000.
/ l commend to the attention of
Congress the great services OF the
4 c COmmandeT-in-Chief of our armies
during the war for the Union, whose
wise, firm and patriotic conduct did
So much TO bring that momentous
conflict 20 q close. The legislation
OF the United States contains many
preccdcuts for the recognition oI
( DISTINGUISHED military merit, au-
thorizing rank and emoluments to
he conferred Tor eminent services to
1.-THE country. An actof Congress au-
thorizing the appointment OF Cap
tain General OF the Army, with suit
able provisions reiaJu- to compen-
sa,ion. retirement, and other details,
would, in my judgement, be alto
rather fitting and proper, and would
be warmly approved by the coun-
try.
THE CONDITION OF THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary Of the
/ Navy exhibits the successful and
satisfactory management of that
! department during the last fiscal
wear The total expenditures
/ Tor the year were Sl2,9l6,639.-
! -, leaving unexpended at the close
. of the year S3.14l,6S223 Of the
amount of the available appropria-
tions. The appropriations Tor the
present fiscal year ending June 30.
; ISL are S1jU9j,OGl4j: and the
3 total estimates for the next fiscal
- wear ending June 30. 1852. are SD
p y537j1G1 The amount drawn by
. warrant from July /, 1880, to Nov
cmber l. 1850, is S5,O4l, ,51045.
r The recommendation Of the Secre.
2 tary Of the Navy, that provision bC
D made for the establishment of some
To- form of civil government for the peo.
p pie OF Alaska, is approved. Atpres-
e ent there is 10 protection of persons
t or progeety in that Territory, except
B, such as Is afforded by the officers o
f the United States ship jamestown
p This vessel was dispatched to Sitka
r. because OF the fear that, without the
e presence OF the national authority
there was impending danger of an
f archv. The steps taken to restor,
, order have been accepted in gooC
3 faith bv both white and Indian in
e habitants. and the necessity for this
r method of restraint does not, in ny
h opinion. now exist. II, however
l. the jamestown should bc with
IS drawn, leaving the people, rs a
r present, without the ordinary judi
= cial and administrative authority 9
p organized local government, seriou
a consequences might ensue.
.c The laws provide only for the col
1t lection of revenue, the protection O
1t public property, and the transmits
,- sion of the mails. The problem !
.c 10 supply local rule for popula
5, ton so scattered and SO peculiar il
II Its origin and condition. The IA
e. tives are reported to be teachabl
and self supporting, and, if properl,
l. instructed, doubtless would advanc
IT rapidly in civilization, and a ney
z factor of prosperity would be adde,
y, to the national life. | therefore re
e. commend the requisite Legislation
O. upon this subject.
le The Secretary of the Navy ha
&c ta-cn steps towards the establish
ID ment of naval coaling stations ut tn
Isthmus of Panama, 10 meet tn
.c requirements of our commercial r,
at lauons with Central and Sout
" America which are rapidly CROWN
N in importance. Locations emincnl
IT. suitable. both as regards our nava
Il purposes and the uses OF commerce
)f nave been selected, one on the eas
ID side OF the isthmus, at Chiridui Ii
~ gocu, in the caribbean Sea, and tn
y other on the Pacific coast. at tn
~ Bay of Golfito. The only safe han
C bors, sufficiently commodi0us, q
pS the lsthmus, are at these points, an
N the distance between them Is les
n, than one hundred miles. The T,
he port of the Secretary OF the Nav
be- concludes with valuable suggestion
of with respect to the building up ou
,c merchant marine service, which dt
J. serves the favorable consideration
Il of Congress.
III 9oSToCFICE AFFAIRS.
~ The report Of the Postmaster Gen
- cral exhibits the continual growtl
+ land the high state of efficiency c
70 the postal service. The operation
n of 10 department of thegoFernmen'
g perhaps, represent with greater ez
a. actness the increase in the pOpull
"A ton and business Of the country. Il
~ 1850, the postal receipts were s.
51S 06140: in 1850. the receipt
n were S33,315,479.34. All the inhab
= itantS in the country are directl,
ii and personally interested in havin,
prc,or D,ail facilities and not,,rol II