St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-04-24
GENERAL NEWS.

steadily making money. If the receipts
keep on at the present rate there will be
a balance of more than 100000 to
turn into the treasury at the end OF an
other fiscal year. The latest complete
quarterly statement in hand is that for
December 81 1900. 1t shows total ex-
penditures 500, III ,489, and total re-
ctipts 500, 405, OBS; excess of receipts,
$633, 546. For the quarter of 1899
there was deficit OF 1927, 900, and for
the whole OF the last fiscal year the de-
felt was S5,3S5,O00. 1t is the imme-
mortal custom for the post Office depart
ment to be confronted with a deficit,
usually to be counted in seven figures
and sometimes in eight.
There is no doubt in the minds of the
department officers that the quarter end
ing March 81 will show balance to the
good; and is likely to be even larger than
that of the last quarter for the figures
which are already in, show that never in
the history of the service have the stamp
sales been so enormous. The interior
cities, particularly, have eclipsed all pre-
vlous records. The principal revenue of
the department is from the sale Of
stamps, stamped envelopes and postal
cards. OF the $102,000,OOO taken in
last year, $94 100000 were from this
source. 1t is said at the department
that the cause for this shift of the bal
ance to the profit side is the general
prosperity of the country. People are
writing more letters, and sending out
more advertisements and circulars.
Fort 10 be Sold.
The United States government is
about to abandon the famous old fortif-
cation at Eastport, Me-, known for SO
years as Fort Sullivan. The land occu-
pied by the fort and its buildings is to be
sold for house lots. This old fort was
built in 1908, following the Embargo
act passed by Congress in 1907. 1t con-
sisted originally OF acrescent-shaped bat
terry OF stone work eleven feet thick,
backed with six feet of earthwork, a
blockhouse of pine timber with walls
two feet thick and magazine of stone
with walls two feet thick and an arched
roof. The United States steamship
Wasp brought company of artillery to
man the fort, which mounted four 49,
Founders. In 1912 the fort was seized
by the British who held it to the close of
the war and who erected several build
ings there, one of which is yet standing
IN good condition, used as a tenement
house by some OF the poorer people of
the town. At various times up to 1875
the tort has been garrisoned but of late
1t has been given over to squatters.
Trying To Settle.
The treasury department and the state
of Louisiana are trying to secure a final
settlement of the old Louisiana state
bonds. These bonds, originally amount
ing to S4, 476 900, were con6scated by
Gen. P. H. Sheridan at Shreveport, La,
on July IL, 1865, but as the capture
occurred after the war had officially |
ended, the national government has |
never claimed title to them. From time
to time, upon Identification by proper
state officers, certain certificates have |
been delivered, until the value of those |
remaining in the treasury is now not |
more than $545 900.
Recently one of the Louisiana repre-
sentatives in congress became interested |
in the states claim, and called upon the |
treasurer to furnish him a complete
statement about the certificates which |
had been turned over to the state
treasury. 1t has developed in this in
vestigation that a number OF the bonds, |
amounting to several hundred thousand
dollars, for which the national treasury
holds descriptive receipts are apparently |
missing from the state treasury Until
they can be found. it is not likely that |
Louisiana will make formal demand for
the remaining bonds known to be in the
vaults of the treasury department
Peru's Gift TO Harvard.
The Peruvian government has given
recent evidences OF its friendly sentiments
toward the United States by offering to
Harvard University such real estate as
might be required for the extension of
the astronomical plant Of that university
at Arequipa, Peru. At the same time the
government authorities have granted
the unusual concession of admitting free
OF duty all the equipment which Harvard
may send to the station. The observa-
tory was established by Harvard about
Is years ago. The Harvard authorities
recently have determined to extend the
headquarters at Arequipa, and when
this came to the attention of the Peru
Wan government the tender Of land and
a remission of all duties was made to the
university authorities through the medi-
um of Mr.. Calderon, the Peruvian minis
ter here
Applications for Lieutenancies.
Secretary Root, at Washington, is now
busy with the applications for lieuten
ancies in the new army. Thousands Of
applications have been received for the
$50 positions open, and the secretary is
giving personal attention to each The
war department is securing the record of
every applicant. This immense labor is
one reason tor the delay in making
known results. 1t is Mr.. Roots desire
to make the appointments as nearly
competitive as if all the candidates had
been before board of civil service exam.
liners. Everything is being taken into
account, the entire records of the men,
as we'll as their standing on examina.
ton, and the claims that are made for
them. Mr.. Root expects when he gets
through to have about the finest BODY of
young officers who ever began military
career.
Frenchmen Decorate WashingtOn
Tomb.
There was touching scene at Mount
Vernon recently when M. Cambon. the
French ambassador, accompanied by the
officers and cadets of the French training
h t. - |