St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-17

The amount of the appropriation used in
the purchase of supplies and their dlstribu-
ton amounted to SId5. 2uJ. leaving S44. 500
of the appropriation unused. which balance
was afterwards reappropriated by congress
to the territory of Oklahoma. Capt. j. T.
Weston. commissary of subsistence. was i'm
mediately charged with making the pur-
chases and distribution of these stores, with
headquarters at New Orleans, aud with such
officers detailed to assist him as were re-
quired. Capt Weston was necessarily given
large discretion in the performance of this
work. as the information received was often
times conflicting and the necessity pressing.
1t was the effort of the department to supply
the destitute and carry out the purposes of
congress IN granting an appropriation.
but at the same time to guard against
imposition. and to see to it that the bounty
of the government reached the deserving
and was carefully and prudently distributed.
The legislature or the state of Louisiana has
formally communicated to the department
an engrossed concurrent resolution extend
ing The thanks OF their state to congress and
the executive for the prompt and generous
action Of the federal authorities.
Monuments.
No action has been taken towards procur-
ing the pedestals for the statues of Gems
Sheridan and Logan under the act of March
., 1889, for the reason that the character and
size of the statues have not been Fl xed upon
by the respective committees of the army as
sociations having the matter in charge
II.
Hancock; and [ would suggest that the law
appropriating $40. 400 for the pedestal be so
amended so that any balance not required
for the pedestal may be applied toward the
purchase of the statue. suitable pedestal
can probably be procured for about SO, 900
The monument to Gen. Lafayette and his
compatriots, authorized by the act of March
3, 1885, has been received from the sculp-
tors, but. on account of the joint resolution
OF sept. 80, 1890, was not put in place. The
commission has now fixed upon location
at the southeast corner OF Lafayette square,
and work will soon be commenced on the
foundations.
Exploration Of Alaska.
The area of Alaska is estimated at nearly
| one-ftth the size Of the United States or
| nearly equal to the combined areas of the
| New Engla nd, Middle and Southern states
| east of the Mississippi river. OF the interior
| of this vast area we are practically ignorant
! Three or four "Reminiscences hay been
made by officers of the army through
| portions of the territory and the
| courses of several of its great
naVigable rivers have thus been
| determined These expeditions however.
| were inadequately prepared for the work of
| exploration. the Journeys were necessarily
made in very great haste, and were confined
| to the rivers. No systematic exploration of
! the Interior has ever been attem pied by the
! government. and the topography, resources.
| and capabilities of Alaska are practically
| unknown.
In order to obtain exact and trustworthy
information concerning this territory have
| approved proposition to organize thor
oughly equipped expedition to make a sys-
tematic exploration and survey of Alaska
| The duty viii be arduous and trying at the
| best, but it will be cheeTfiiiiy undertaken
both by competen. officers and by the ner