Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-08-30
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
Treasury Officials Generally Observing
Unusual E2eticence About Recent
Gold Shipments.

The Land Department has notified
Representative Hermann that it hopes
to be able to allow Oregon $35, 900 for
surveys of public lands, and that direc-
tons have been sent to the Surveyor
General OF Oregon to complete inspec-
ton OF all surveys not yet inspected.
Funds are now provided for that pur-
pose.
The sentence OF the court in the case
of Commander McCurley OF the ALI
ance, who was court-martialed Tor run
ming his vessel ashore, was eighteen
months suspension, to retain his pres
ent number and to receive three fourthss
OF his waiting-orders pay. The Admiral
of the station has committed the SEN
tence to twelve months suspension, 70
retain his present number and to receive
full pay.
Supervising Architect Edbrooke says
regarding the new eigbt-hour law that 1t
will increase the cost OF construction IL
per cent. The government spends about
$25, 900 900 annually on public buildings,
and the additional expenditure under
the new law will be $3,000,001. He says
tina law may also make a serious dlller-
once In the character OF the public build
ings to be erected in Washington, Omaha,
st. Paul, Milwaukee and San Francisco.
Treasury officials, while apparently
unconcerned over the recent gold ship
ments, are generally observing unusual
reticence In the matter. Acting Treas
urer Whelpley takes very philosophical
view OF the situation, ami says he sees no
occasion for any excitement because the
Assistant Treasurer at New York recent
ly paid out 81 900, 900 In gold for export
In exchange for treasury notes. He says
that there is nothing unusual In the
transaction beyond the fact that gold
shipments seem to have continued a lit
tie later this year than heretofore. 1t
was due, hs thought, TO very heavy inn
ports OF late, payments for which must
be made in gold. Gold exports in his
opinion are practically at an end for this
OF the United States will soon set in.
Representative Hermann wac in con-
sultation with the acting Secretary OF
War, General Grant, the other day, seek.
ing 10 expedite department action as to
the contracting OF work at the Cascade
locks and the canal on the Columbia.
General Grant assured Mr.. Hermann
that the department itself Ia doing all
that Ia possible and allowing no unnec-
essary time TO elapse, and that Major
Hamburg, being the officer In charge,
has been directed to submit speciiica-
tions upon the contract, which is to be
let. So many advantages are taken by
contractors In every way that the chief
OF engineers Is determined that when
the contract Ia entered into for this great
work. as Congress has directed, IL must
be understood that no leniency will be
shown, and that every particle OF work
must be completed In the exact time
and order specified in the contract, and
the contract shall DO 30 carefully pre-
pared that no advantage shall be had by
legal bubbles.
The Potomac river, which is the only
waterway approach to the national CAPT
tal, after being practically unguarded for
many years Ia al last to be supplied with
modern defenses. The project contem
plates empalementa for four twelve-inch
modern guns on iiits six ten inch and
three eight-inch guns on disappearing
carriage, eight twelve-inch mortars and
extensive submarine mines operated
from two mining easements. The tor
pedo arrangement will be one of the
most complete and destructive in the
world. Immediately in front OF the fort
the Potomac curves gracefully in the
shape OF half moon, aud the guns
posted In the land batteries can deliver
u broadside a. we'll az a "bow on" fire
upon an advancing boat before the tor
pedo mines are reached Plans have
also been perfected for effectnally oh
structing the river at this point should
such step DO necessary. The sum OF
sil7, leo from the general appropriation
OF February 81, 1891, is now being ex-
pended on this work, and should that
amount not prove sufficient, an allot-
ment will be made from the appropria-
ton passed at the session recently end
ed. Two hundred additional acres oil
ground Mt Sheridan's Point on the Poto-
mac, contiguous to Fort Washington,
have also been acquired by the govern
ment 80 Il Mt there may be no lack Of
room for the plant.