Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-26

General wrote letter yesterday afternoon in
structins the law officer OF the Post Office depart
ment TO make an investigation with the view of as
certaln1ng whether the charges that Indian Agent
Gfllycuddy has been Illegally using the official en-
velopes 10 avoid the payment Of postage is well
founded.
FIRST LIEUT.. JOHN c. GRESHAM. 7th cavalry, has
been detailed as professor Of military science and
tactics at the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical
college,, BlacksouTg. Va.
OUR SEAcoAsT DEFENsEs.-The Secretary OF War
has ordered Col James c. Duane Lieut. Col Henry
L. Aobot and Lieut. Col Cyrus B. Comstock OF the
engineer corps to visit the works OF fortIcation at
Fort Delaware, Baltimore harbor and Hampton
ROADS, On duty connected with studies for the de-
tense OF those positions On completion OF the
uuty speclned they VIII return to their respective
Stations
Army ORDERs-Leave OF absence for two months
Is granted First Lieut. George l. Anderson, 4th
artillery. The leave OF absence granted Capt.
James A. Finley. assistant surgeon, Q. S. army,
department OF Texas, Is extended two months
paragraph 4, special orders, No. 100, August IA,
1884, relating to First Lieut.. Robert Hanna 9th
cavalry. is revoked. The Secretary OF War has or
dered the transfer OF Post Chaplain Malnor c.
Blaine, from the department Of Texas to the de-
partment OF the Columbia, and OF Post Chaplain
OfViile j. Nave. from the department OF the COum-
Dla TO the department OF Texas The order takes
elect october /, 1884
THE FOLLOWING PATENTS were issued to residents
OF Washington during the past week: Reuben II.
Andrews, morticing and boring machine; Charles
}. Curtis, chalce; George f. Noyes, brick machine
JOnn e. Kay (aSsignOr OF one-half to w. j. Kline,
level and protractor; Philip c. RUSSELL time piece
Ihomas Taylor, treating cotton seed to remove
hber The following were issued TO residents OF
Baltimore: Joseph F. Baicnclor, car-brake and
coupling; Ottmar Mergenthaler. matrix-making
machine, Solomon T. Wariield. green corn cutter;
James A. Whiting, ships windiass
THE REPORT Of the resignation Of Commissioner
Dudley seems to have been without any authority.
Gen. Dudley has proved SO good an officer that the
public Will be glad to know that the government
Will continue to have the benefit or his services
THREE VICTIMS OF THE TALLAPoosA DIS AsTER.-A
telegram was received at the Navy department
from Commander Merry, dated at Cottage City,
Mass, as followS:-" Received telegram from mas
Ter OF Gate City, saying that VIM. Jones, landSman
William O'Donnell was killed by the collision. as
snlps yeoman stated that as lie came along the
berth deck he stepped on what he thought was q
man either asleep por dead.'
NAVAL ORDERs.-Pay Inspector Fl. N. DennIston
has been ordered as Inspector OF provisions and
clothing at the navy yard Mare Island October 1st
Passed Assistant PaymasterC c. NJ Ray to special
duty In connection with the government exhibit at
the New Orleans exposition: Assistant Paymaster
John COrWlne. to the Monococy, Asiat1c station;
Lieut.. L. 5. Sebree has been detached from the
Ihetls and placed On waiting orders; Lieut.. John
G. COlWell, from the Bear and placed on waiting
orders; Ensigns c. S. McClain and A. a. Ackernan,
from tne Alert and placed on waiting orders: Pay
Director James Fulton. from duty as inspector OF
provisions and clothing at the Mare Island navy
yard and placed on waiting ORDERS Assistant Pay
master H. K. Sullivan, from duty in the bureau OF
provisions and clothing and ordered to the Enter
prise, Asiatic station; Acting Assistant Pay master
u NJ. A5tranGel from the MonOcacy on the report
Ing OF his relief and ordered home; Acting Assist
ant Paymaster H. ID. Alexander, from the Enter
home; Passed Assistant Engineer G. B. Ransom.
from the Passaic and ordered 10 the Vandalia: AS
slstant Engineers W. b. Dunning and W. F. Worth
ington, from the Powhatan and placed on waiting
orders.
FROM J. j. Chapman we have copy Of McPher,
sons Handbook OF Politics for 1854. Always valu-
able, this manual is doubi useful on the occasion
Of presidential election its stores OF information
furnishing every variety OF data tor political speak
erS and writers. Its contents carefully ciassi-
LED, and the labors OF searcherS after facts are
materially lghtened by the complete and WELL
arranged index which closes the volume
ARMY SHARP SHooTERs.-As a result OF the an
nual competitive rife practice for Creedmoor Of
the marksmen III the batteries encamped at Fal-
Quier White sulphur springs. Va, during July and
August. the following named men were selected
TO compete at Creeinoor Tor places on the depart
ment and division teams: SerEeants Davis, Berger
Williams, Kelly, and Whitehead and Private Baker
They LETT Tor Creedlnoor to-day. Every member Of
the team reached the highest grade or nlarksinan-
ship that OF sharpshooter. The first position in
the regiment as sharpshooterw was won by Sergeant
appropriately Inscribed as a prize The winning
team this year Is the that OF last. except
ing one exchange and the addition of four new men,
comparing the records OF firing this year and last,
1t was found that the percentages at 500 800, and
600 yards this year was greater than tuat at zoo
300 and 600 yards last year.
REsIGNED.-J. Howard Mason, internal revenue
storekeeper and gauger in Cumberland, Md, yes
terday forwarded his resignation to Collector Sell
man, 10 take effect September 1St.
THE BOND CALI--The Treasury cali for three
per cent bonds issued yesterday, includes the fol-
lowing bonds s50-Orignal No 307 to original No
314. both inclusive. and original No 1919 10 ORIGINAL
No. 13l3 both inclusive; S100-Original No 2256 to
original No 1862. both inclusive. and original No
95l4 TO original No 95iS, both Inclusive s5OO-Orgi-
4OO9 10 original No. 4G24, both inclusive; 81 COO
Original No 10620 TO original No I1OSS both ncl,,-
slve ana oTslna .;d NO as5s to original No 2as1s
nal No. sU3O1 both inclusive Total, $4,000, 600
MONUMENT MEMoRANDA.-Now that the frame
timbers placed on top OF the Washington Monu-
ment reach a point somewhat higher than its final
summit is to be. those workmen whose duties call
them to or near It's top reach a higher elevation
than mas ever been attained any structure reared
BY human handS. so far as can be Judged
From the foundation line the highest point is about
$40 feet.
Some OF the observations made by the men en-
gagged on the upper portions or the Shaft are both
curious and interesting. On last Thursday after
noon, during the fierce storm which prevailed for
little While, quite hail storm prevailed on top
OF the monument, but not single one OF the frozen
pe!etS reached the earth below. The stones were
SO large as TO severely sting the faces OF the men,
against which they were driven by the sharp gale:
and the fact that they were all melted before they
touched ground would seem to Indicate a much
lower temperature at the summit than at the base
OF the shaft though the size the particles would
naturally be diminished somewhat during their
whole course through the atmosphere from their
starting point
At sunset when the atmosphere is clear and the
sun unobScured, beautiful phenomenon Il ObSeIv-
able from the top. Long after the sun has passed
from view at the base, 1t is still shining bright and
strong against the summit. high in air. The result
Is that strong shadow OF the upper part OF the
monument only is projected across the sward OF
the Smithsonian grounds, to the eastward. This
Is due to the fact noted abOve,-that the sun still
falls with full force against the summit. while the
horizon line has cut of its rays from the base OF
course It is possible for persons on level with
the earth TO observe this novel exhibition but from
the top OF the column the sharp shadow OF the ex-
treme summit, with the line OF shade growing
fainter and fainter nearer the monument until the
shadow lines OF the lover part entirely lost can
be seen quite plainly from the great elevation al
Orded by the aerial outlook. and the effect is Very
singular. Perhaps no other elevation in the world
would furnish in itself such novel and conclusive
| evidence OF great height.
Naval Salute to the President.
TIE g. 8. S. TENNESSEE BUMPS on ROCK
The naval squadron, consisting OF the Tennessee
Swatara, vandalia and Alliance, went out from
Newport yesterday afternoon 10 West Island to pay
their respects TO President Arthur and salute him
| On the Alliance were the members OF the Senate
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