The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-09-05

Ina an territory ana at the Piute agency III
Nebraska. He was also connected, with
Major Powell In his explorations and sur
veys, and with Powell was granted large
sums of money to buy presents for the In
dams. His accounts are being investigated
anu so far there Is a shortage of something
like Sll4,0OO. Springer Is pushing this case
at the treasury department, and hopes to
be able to get at the bottom facts.
RIVAL TELEGRAPH LINES.
Postmaster General Gresham was In con-
ference "Wednesday with Executive Man
ager Bates and Superintendent Selden of
the United Telegraph lines, and Captain
Whitney of the Western Union company,
In regard TO fixing rates for government tel
egraph service. Mr.. Bates offered day
rate of 20 cents for twenty words for dis
tances within 100 miles, and s cents addi-
tiOnal for each 250 miles beyond that dis
lance up to a maximum rate of 80 cents for
any distance. The night rate offered was
Is cents for twenty words any distance I'M
der 1000 miles, and % cents for any great
er distance. For every five words In excess
of twenty words an additional charge of
One-fifth the respective rates above given is
to be made. Mr.. Bates Thought that In view
of this offer, which meets the terms pro-
posed by the Senate postotfice committee in
the postal telegraph bill, the United lines
should be given all the governments bust
ness. Captain Whitney, for the Western
Union, claimed to be giving the government
argued that the rates proposed by Mr.. Bates
could hot be remunerative. The Postmaster
General listened attentively to the argu-
ments on both sides, and promised to give
them careful attention. ~ A. :
|" - SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCHES. 81
The report of Director Powell, of the
United States geological survey, has been
submitted to the secretary of the interior.
Six parties are at work In the Appalachian
division, and successful season Is antfci-
pated. The Arizona and New Mexican
work Is to be continued, and Topographic
Arkansas, and Texas. Early in the month
three parties were sent to Texas to complete
atlas sheets, besides the completion Of the
triangulation of the area surveyed last year.
A permanent station Is to be established at
Parsons, Kansas, and the. survey extended
therefrOm into Missouri, Arkansas, and
through Kansas. The geologic force has
been increased and the work Is progressing
|. satisfactorily. The work in the great basin
has been suspended. One party is giving
attention to the quartenary formations
along the Mississippi river in northwestern
and northwestern Wisconsin are being
chiefly engaged in the study of the drift
bOrdeEand the terraces of the Mississippi
river and its tributaries. The southern limit
OF northern drift has been traced from
southwestern Indiana across southern llli-
nOis: One party Is studying the gneisses of
the Minnesota valley. Parties are in the
Yellowstone valley prosecuting studies
there. 1t has been discovered that the man.
moth hot springs have undergone great
ty has been sent to examine the coal fields
of the great Sioux Indian reservation.
TIE LAND FRAUDS.
Acting Land Commissioner Harrison
says the Land Office has not force enough
TO straighten out al fraudulent surveys and
entries and eject illegal settlers. The de-
partment has only twenty-five agents, or
about one for every four land districts.
Now" continued Mr.. Harrison, . the ter
ritory of Wyoming is divided into two land
districts. That gives you an idea of the
size of n district. There ought TO be at
least one agent to each district, and then he
would have his hands full, but with only
one TO every four districts it is utterly inn
possible for him to cover the field" Mr..
Harrison says that Congress has repeatedly
been asked for an increase of the force, but
has never granted il, and with its present
Roadway in rectifying the wrongs and the
frauds. The only case yet tried involving
the fencing of public lands without author
ity has been decided in favor of the govern
lnent. Other cases are pending. There Is
one in Colorado against the Prairie Cattle
company" said Mr.. Harrison ''and the
surveying alone viii cost the government
several thousand dollars. We have to iden-
tify the land and that must be done by re-.
surveying" Commissioners Harrison added
that the reports of fraudule.t entries and
illegal fencing had not been exaggerated,
and whenever Congress SEES fit to provide
the means to correct theS" abuses IL will be
done Chief Clerk Lockwood, of the inte-
riOr department. says that the area of good
lands Is being steadily rcdu'el. and the de-
partment is DESTROYS vt preventing seizures
of large tracts but congress has not re-
lad f.l 4.
1t to be done.
THE GREEDY EXPEDITION.
Clements II. Markham, cretary of the
Royal Geographical society, WHO served in
the arctic expedition of $50 In search of Sir
John Franklin, has written letter apropos
of the recent charges made against the
Greedy party. In this he says: "The accu-
sation of murder and cannibalism made
against the Greedy party is Il disgrace 10
American journals. D,cency would have
suggested silence until Greedy had submit
ted his report to the government. There
may be remnant of truth in the charge. 1t
is possible but unlikely that brave men in
the last extremity should have succumbed."
Markham draws attention to the fact that
similar cruel accusation was made against
Sir John Franklin's expedition, and quotes
the noble words of Admiral Sherrard Os-
search expeditions: "Why attempt to lift
the veil with which the All Merciful has
been pleased to shut out from mortal ken
the last sad hours of brave men battling
with famine and disease"
Markham. continuing, says: 1.-THE Amer
lean Navy Department should have control
led and been responsible for the expedition.
The party should never have been left with
out a depot ship wintering within accessible
distance of them. The difficulty of navi-
eating the channels north of Smiths sound
was ignored and precautions neglected,
hence the catastrophe for which there was
no excuse. Lieutenant Greely's observatory
work will form q valuable supplement to
the series of observations which were taken
by the ship Discovery in 1873. The Greedy
expedition will bear the test of thorough
scrutiny. The expedition are mistaken,
however. in stating that Beaumont Cape,
Britannia, was visible from Lincoln bay on
the west side of Robson channel. The real
Cape Britannia is invisible from Lincoln
Bay, the most distant visible land being
Cape May and Mount Hooker. The point
which Lockwood and Brainard reached was
Cape May, not Cape Britannia. The next
land they reached was Beaumont island