The Portland daily press., 1884-11-13
WASHINGTON.
The swaila Cour. rTnr,inI.

WARRINGTON, GOV. 12.-Brig. Gen. Swaim's law
yers have called on the President, raising technical
objections to the court-martial appointed to try
Swain, which is called to meet on Friday Their
point is that the detail was made by the President,
when it should have come from Gem Sheridan This
attempt to obtain trial rests upon the belief
that the max cup of the court decidedly unfavor-
able to swain. President Arthur is considering
The matter.
Gen. Mcclellan Would Like she Navy
Portfolio.
A classmate of Gen. Mcclellan at West Point.
who holds very intimate relations with him. says
that Mcclellan would prefer the navy to the war
secretaryshp if he were offered Cabinet position,
ana could have his choice, tor the reason that he
thinks the navy will play active part in fu-
tpre history He is an enthusiastic supporter of
the scheme to rebuild the navy and to put it on a
Iootng equal or superior to that of any other
Try. He would like to pass into history the mas
ter nand at the reconstruction of the navy.
Condition of the Array.
Major General Hancock in his annual report says
that in bis division are $50 commissioned officers
and 2,748 enlisted men. The garrison Of Fort Ba-
nancos, Fla. should. he thinks, be kept until De-
cember, whom the danger from yellow fever is
passed. The post schools, owing to the unwilling
ness OF the soldiers to submit to the restraint of ha
scnool room are not in prosperous condition. A
hlgh order OF excellence in firing practice is re-
ported.
Maj. Gen. Pope of the Pacific division. in his re-
pott, states tuaG MS troops during the year have
been occupied almost solely in drl and discipline
Ihe Indians in his division have been and are likely
70 remain perfectly quiet. He suggests that the
lands 1n The reservations near Fort CASTOR be as
signed In severalty to the Indians now occupying
them.
Contagious Diseases of Animals.
Dr. ID. e. Salmon, chief of the bureau of animal
industry, has subnitted his report upon contagious
diseases Of animals. DR.. Salmon reaches the con-
cluson that the outbreak of disease in Kansas was
due to ergotism caused by eating the fungus known
as the erg0t, which may be prevented Dy careful
management of food before ergat seeds have form
eh, 70 see that animals have sufficient quantity of
drinking water to keep them in good condition. by
liberal amount of good food also to protect them
as much as possible from inclement weather.
Report of the Lighthouse Board.
The Lighthouse Board has submitted the report of
its operations during the year ended june 80, to
the Secretary OF the Treasury. The board estab-
lished during the year q new liebt stations and
discontinued 2, thus increasing the whole humber
ON the coasts to 772. The number of movable river
hghts was increased from 972 to 049 and anoth-
present number up to 81, including those opefated
py not AR. Two new whistlibg buoys We also
placed in position, bringing the whole number up to
%; Six Dell buoys were added to the 20 in place at
the end OF last year, and two lighted busys were
placed on the shoals off Cape Charles and Cape Hat
The Washington Monument.
Toe Washington monument today reached a
greater height than that of any other structure in
she world, being 52s feet 10 inches above the floor
OF the monument, he next highest structure is
me me spfe Of the Cologne cathedral, which tosfs.4s
5i5 feet above the floor of the building. 1t has
been estimated that it will take but 25 working
days to complete the monument, that there is no
doubt OF its beiug finished in time for it's dedication
on the 2zd or next February.
To Investigate Earthquakes.
1t is proposed in the bureau of geological survey
TO undertake systematic and scientific observation
OF earthquakes IN this country, and Major Powell
has instructed Capt. G. Z. Dutton, U. S. A., who
has long been engaged III the geological survey of
the great plateau region, to draw up plans for the
organization of its work