The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-09-13
WASHINGTON NEWS.

ants III SUIT III eQuity mere, growing out OF
an attempt on the part of the old gentleman
to collect sum OF money that was due him.
| The suit which has been filed, Is brought
| for Henry Johnson, trustee, and the land
company Of New Mexico Omitted, against
Stephen b. Elkins, s. s. Smoot, II. N. Oar.
ling. b. F. Butler Paul Butler Thomas b.
Catron and Bronson Murray, for the con.
| Mora land grant, and enjoining Smoot and
Paul Butler from setting up the title thereto.
The supervising architect Of the treasury
will open bids for the construction Of the
New Bedford custom house on the 18th. Bids
for completing the interior of the Augusta.
Me-, public building will be opened en- the
I'd OF October The contract for the Spring
field public building, for which bids were
opened few days ago, will not be awarded
until after the passage Of the sundry civil
bill, which is now in conference between the
two houses.
Conjectures are expressed at the navy de-
| partment as to how long the Columbia iron
| works will continue on the work of construct
| ing the gunboat Petrol The sixth payment
| on the boat has just been made. 1t amounted
to S24, roo The penalty was $1,000. This
makes in all over $4,000 the company has
paid in penalties. The contractors are now
working along under a penalty of $50 per
| diem, and at the present rate Of progress it
is supposed the 500 per diem penalty will be
| reached before the boat is completed Unless
| Secretary Whitney comes to their relief, it
| Is considered certain that the company will
DO obliged to abandon the contract.
The secretary Of the treasury has accepted
the following bonds: Registered per cents. !,
$4,000 at 1854, $4,000 at 100, sl,500 at 129;
coupon per cents, 81, 500 at 1879. SEQ, 600 at
| 129: registare Ak per cents 81, 500 at 1861
50, 600 at 1864; coupon AZ per cents, $1,000
Mt 106M $5 Oll0 Mt 10t,S/
After the passage Of the river and harbor
bill, General Casey, the chief of engineers,
sent to every office in charge Of improve
ments copy Of that portion of the bill re-
| lating to the works In their district, and
| directed them to forward at the earliest OPP
| portunty an outline Of the work they pro-
posed to do this year.
The following projects have been received
from Lieutenant Colonel Gillespie, who has
charge of the Massachusetts, Improvement,
and have been duly approved.
One of the most important works in the
district is the Improvement of Boston har-
Dor, for which Sl25,0D0 was appropriated
The object of the Improvement, Colonel Gill
lespie says, is to preserve the harbor by pro-
,ecting the islands and headlands and to I'M
prove it by widening, deepening and
Strengthening the channels. The work OF
preservation o-sists OF sea walls, aprons,
jetties, etc., and such have been built at
Point Allerton and the islands of Great
Brewster, Lovells, dalloupe's Long, Deer,
Rainsford, Georges and Castle,
For improving the national harbor of
refuge at Sandy bay, Cape Ann, S10O, GOO
was appropriated. In connection with this
work, Colonel Gillespie says:
~ recommend that the funds now made
available by the act be expended in leveling
up the pres mt submerged mound, if found
necessary, by survey now eing made, and
in extending the mound northw I'd for dis
lance of 500 feet approximately, the distance
being dependent Upon the price bid for ma
terial" The work will be done by contract.
For continuing the improvement of the
harbor at Newburyport, $25, 900 was appro-
priated. Colonel Gillespie thinks the best
use to which the money can be put is to ex-
tend the north jetty eastward about 800 feet,
which will require 10000 tons of stone
Ten thousand dollars was appropriated for
| improving Gloucester harbor. This sum will
| be used in removing certain lodges and
bouldeis from the inner harbor.
For continuing the improvement of Scit-
uate harbor 5000 was appropriated. In
| view of the small sum made available, Col.
| Gillespie recommends that it be used IN
| dredging 10000 cubic yards Of material,
| making a channel y feet wide ard three feet
| deep from the anchorage basin to the lower
| wharves, distance of POO feet.
|
| for the Improvement of Provlncetown har-
Dor Col. Gillespie recommends that 81, 0OO
| of this amount lie retained for the repair OF
| probable storm damages to the existing
works and the balance be used in levelling
up and backing the long point breakwater.
The work will tie uone by hired labor.
The navy department has received cable
gram stating that the United States steamer
Brooklyn has started for home from Maya
saki, Japan, under SAIL
1t is stated that Secretary of the Navy
Whitney intends to resign Immediately after
| he submits his annual message. He recently
told friend that he was heartily tired Of
office, not because the work was too labori-
Gus, or because of his heath. But to tell
| the truth" said the secretary, II have no
political ambition. Public office is not profit
able, and it has no attractions for me-
| have great many private interests and in
vestments in good many enterprises which
require looking altar, AMI whica, owing to
my public duties, have had to be more or
less neglected.
N. H. r. Dawson, United States commits
sioner of education, in his annual report to
the secretary of the interior, says that more
than IL, 900, 900 of children attended public
school some part Of the last fiscal year, and Of
those nearly 5000, 900 were in average daily
attendance In both respects the southern
states have made greater progress than other
parts of the country. Tho private and in
corporatei schools, colleges ami universities
show, in general, marked advance in pros
perity.
The disbursing officer of the interior de
partment still holds balance to tine ere dit
of Mr.. Justice Lamar. Mr.. Lamar's resig
nation as secretary of the interior was &c.
cepted by the president at noon one day.
The treasury department recognizes all frac
tions of day. and so Mr.. Lamar was cred
tied with full days pay for the day or
which the resignation was accepted. lie
drew his pay as secretary up to IL O'Clock
that day, but would not take another cent.
Acting Secretary Harmony has received Q
telegram from Capt Chester, commanding
u. s. s. Galena, which was ordered to Por1
au Prince. Hayti, for the protection OIL
American interests. saying that the troubles
in that country were at an end for the pres
ert.
Maj. j. W. Powell, director Of the geo
logical survey, in his annual report to the
secretary of the interior, states that the ares
surveyed during the year was $4,000 squar,
district of Columbia and New Jersey ha
been completed. Work has also been don,
in IL other states and territories. The aggre
gate of all surveys to date is $685. 600 square
miles The object of the surveys is the pro
duction of typographical map Of tn,
country.
DIR. David T. Day, in charge of the division
of mining statistics, estimates that for tn,
calendar year of 1887 the total value O
metals, minerals. stones, coal. petroleum
and natural gas was s53s, 056, 345, bein:
larger than any preceding year, and thu
largest total ever reached by the minera
production of any country.
! A Brave Little Dude.
It was at picnic and John Gabby had
Just proposed to Miss Maude Mortimer.