Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-13
Reports OF United States officials.
FROM GOV. swINEFoRD.

Sept. 3, reached Sitka Sept. 10, and
sat down Oct. / 10 write his report.
WHAT he learned of the resources and
climate sf Alaska and the people,
runs through thirty~siS large pages.
4 careful estimate of the population
of Southern Alaska places the number
OF whites a. ], 300, and natives at Z, 900.
The native Alas&ans are said to be
| educated 10 some extent in the ele-
meatary branches, and are the men.-
| eerS of the Greek, Presbyterian and
S.ataslic churches. They are not In>
| dianS, and differ in appearances, hab-
| Its, language, aud other respects fronl
the Indians of the Uaited States. The
governor dwellS at length upon the
great natural resouces of Alaska. and
| severely arraigns those government
agents who represented The country
As inclemept 10 degree that prectudes
the cultivation of crops or the keep.
lug OF domestic animals. Nowhere,
he says, IN his home travels. from
Lake Superior 10 the Calf OF Mexico,
has he seen a more luxuriant vegetss
ton than III Southeastern Alaska.
Inc harder vegetables all grow To
rAAN ~ SiLS, 8lu
the cattle are sleek and in the best pos.
slole G addition. The gold mines on
Douglass Island, opposite Juneau, are
III full operation. The deposit is reps
resented To be truly phenomenal, and
the Governor says the mine promises
10 figure more largely in the mining
history OF the world than any other
on record. The curing and canning
of cod and salmon has assumed large
proportions, although the business has
not yet been largely remunerative, BY
reason of the sharp competition of
the Columbia River fisheries.
REPORT OF PAYMAsTER FUNERAL RoCH.
ESTER,
Paymaster G6neIal Rochester
ester III his anuusl report to the Scores
tary Of War shows that the disburse>
ments made by his bureau during the
last fiscal year amounted TO $lS. 4SS,
721, including S197, 600 to tke sigual
service and S213, 000 to the Military
Academy and SIP S49, 44S on army
pay rolls. The amount diSbursed for
payment of mileage of officers was
1856. 900. General Rochester recon-
mendS that Congress be asked to en-
act legislation allowing officers who
may be travelling under orders, his
actual fare and a certain rate of mile
age by the shortest usually travelled
route, sufficient TO meet incidental ex>
penSeS. Such a scheme, he says,
would be more equitable, both TO the
officers and the government, than the
present system. Nineiy>two non com.
misSoned officers and privates have
beer placed upon the retired list.
G; neral Rochester recommends leglS>
latlon 10 authorize the payment to
these men of 50 a month in lieu OF the
allowances for clothing and rations
The Paymaster General reports that
the diminished operations of his large
bureau make Il possible TO drop SIX
clerks from the present force.
ADJUTANr GENERAL DRUM.
Adjutanl General Drum in his an
nual report 10 the Secretary of War,
invites alteration TO the subject OF the
obSol etc arms and ammunition in the
hands of the Stale militia or stored III
the several State armorleS. Ii would,
he says, seem most wise measure, If
at tltC SNSStoH VI SplkICso
a general act were passed providing
for the Immediate exchange, when re
quested, of all obsolete arms now in
the hands of the militia OF the several
states for improved Springfield rifles,
calbre Is, and appropriate ammuui
ton therefor. lie recommends that
proof be required with the application
for the detail of a military professor
at any military school that at least $50
male pupils above the age OF Is are
annually present; he finds that III
some cases runs as low as 90. He re
commends that non commissioned Of
ticerS and privaIes on the retired list
be paid gross sum in money in lieu
of their presnt pay and commutation
of allowances, and he submits n table
emoodying . proposition TO pay them
at rates varying at $534 As per month
for chief mucisiaps to % 80 for artiii
GERS. He reeomends the publication
ofa new edition Of army regulations.
to conform with laws enacted SINCE
the present code was promulgated, and
calls attention TO the inadequacy III
szs of the military prison at Fort Lea
enworth. He calls special attention to
the value of work done by the prison
ers. He calls attention to the difficulty
Of securing clerks acquainted with
army forms, and recommends RENE
dies.
REVENUE MARINE SERVICE.
The report of the Chief of the Rev
enue Marine Service, shows that in
inforcing the provisions of law, and
the protection of the revenue "a 48l
merchant vessels were boarded and
examined. OF this number 425 were
foand violating the law, and were
either seized or reported TO the proper
authorities. Thess vessels incurred
liability TO fines, penalties, or forfeit
ures, amounting to 1904 515, about
| two thirds the cost OF maintaining the
service. The number OF vessels in
distress assisted is 274. They had on
board 2, SAP persons, and the value of
the vessels and cargoes was -, 56S, 013.
Sixty persons were picked out OF the
water and saved from drowning. The
report further states that the revenue
cutters have co-operated beneficially
! with the state and national quarantine
system on our Atlantic and lake coasts
in preventing the Introduction OF
cholera, yellow fever and smallpox
The cost of conducting the service for
the fiscal year was 1919, 957.
FIRST COMPTROLLER DUNHAMs RE-.
PORT.
The first annual report Of FIRST
Comptroller Dunham shows that dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 30,
6S, 600 warrants, aggregating 81, 604. :
975,411, were examined, registered
and countersigned, and that 26, $50
accounts, ageregating So, ,357. 521 445,
received from the auditing officers,
were revised, recorded and certified
to the Register. The comptroller calls
attention TO the fact that in 1868 the
| first comptroller then ia Office certified
balances due to the United States from
the several States and Territories re
spectively for direct taxes due and un
paid under the direc. tax act of Aug.
5, 1861. and such states and territories
were accordingly debited ON the books
| in the office of the Register OF the
Treasury and says: 1T may well be
doubted whether any corporate state
| was properly so charged, but, as thr
then comptroller had jurisdiction Of
tho et1hipcf matter the statements