I.WttStYKC, E«taran*FiiMMi». ILLINOIS. I THE NEWS CONDENSED. THE EAST. "DOC* WIMON now declares MiMiK a •on of the barb-wire millionaire Moen, which fact (he latter ooncealed until 1870, vtMB he experienced religion and made the cOfeMttk Since then "Doc" has received NHAMMyftom Moen, but the Wilson familygot more for keeping silence. Wil- •On's story was told in the presence of four reputable citizens of Providence, R. I.: Hia story, says a rrovidenc1 dispatch, in that toe la tbe sou of koeii'n first wife, and that he «M betn a few mouths ofter the marringa. Moen, beinc a deicon aud a prorea^edlv hiph- •ottBd Christian d d not wish to face the scandal fit H«h ail early birth for his first-born, so a bargain was made with Jonas Wilson, of Daa- MsMiville, Ct,, a stage driver, by which tho babe was transferred to the latter's care and kWight np as a Wilson. The boy lived and toiled In the humble sphere to which fen aaya Moen consigned him, and it waa B«t until he WHS A young man grown tbet he learned the secret of his birth. For that secret he wna indebted to re- llgklM remorse of his supposed father, Jonas WJtaon, who, being on his death-bed, and not 'Skiing to pass the portals with a burden on his Sttttl, drew the ltd toward him and told him who M was. After Wilson died the young fellow set •A for Worcester to meet his father face to ftee. Their first meeting, Wilson says, was ex actly aa baa been described. He did meet Moen £hat morning, and after observing the •igna of wealth ami luxury that abounded, he demanded of Moen some reparation far. «w wrong done on«* who should be the heir to all. Moeu at first refused 1b acknowledge the lad, and would kav« driven him forth, but the boy faced hia mUlionalre parent defiantly, upbraiding hi in for the wrong done his mother and himself. He said: "I will force you to acknowledge me, and the world shall know you for what yon are." Aooording to Wilson's storv, the Wilsons, who knew the secret of his parentage, seeing "Doc" had money and knowing it oame from Moen, began to urge their claims upon him. Their demands increased, and to satisfy them he had to apply to Moen for money; and in that way ttrcch of the sum received from the hanker was Spent. Wilson says these demands upon hirn grew so exorbitant that he became almost im poverished by them. : REGARDING "DOC" Wilson's story that lie is the son bfiP. L. Moen, the records at Oxford, Mass., show that he was born there Dec. 1, 1853, eleven months after the death <if Mrs. Moen. ADVICES from the coke regions of Penn sylvania are to the effect that 10,000 cokers are preparing to strike at the end of the Aionth if the operators do not concede the 'demands made some time ago The pro- prietors of eight hotels or restaurants in Hartford were arrested for using oleomar garine en their tables without displaying the placard required by the law of Con- ^•5% vf™ WES*. Grangers, Patrons of Hn bandry, Anti- Monopoly Leagues, People's party, Farm ers and Laborers' Co-operative Union, agricultural wheels, soldiers' organizations, and all other organizations which indorse and subscribe to the new declaration of in dependence. THE boeks of the internal revenue offioe at Atlanta show a recent increase of eight een in the registered distilleries of Georgia. They are allowed to sell to the public in ten-gallon packages. In only three coun ties is the manufacture of liquors prohib ited. • WASH I.̂ UTON. TH* Soldiers' Home at Washington lis 849 regular inmates^ The cottage former ly occupied by the President as a summer residence has been assigned to the vet erans. A FAC-siMiLEof a $5 greenback, painted on wood, was recently seized by officers of the secret service. The artist protested that there was no violation of the law against counterfeiting, and that the block was worth $500 as a work of art The Solicitor of the Treasury has been asked to decide the question. , THE following is a recapitulation of the debt statement issued on the 1st inst., cents omitted: INTF.BKST-BKAMKQ DEBT. Bonds at 4 percent f 330,000,000 Bonds at 4 per cent. 73/,779,000 Bonds at 3 per cent. 71,154,210 Refunding certificates at 4 per cent. 191.7J0 Navy pension fund at 3 per cent.. .. 14,00 J,0J0 Pacific railroad bonds at 6 per cent. 64,623,512 Principal Interest Total.... ......... $1,149,342,491 DEBT ON WHICH IHTKRKST HAS CEASED 8 IN CM MATOKITT. Principal...............:.; ..$ 9,239,365 Interest--......... 218,497 Total $ 9,5-7,832 DEBT BrASINO tfO IN rK UK ST. Old demand and legal-tender notes.$ 346,7S3,391 Certificates of deposit 7,025,000 Gold certificates 90,520,633 Silver certificates 105,519,817 Fractional currency (less (8,3/5,934 estimated as lost or destroyed)... 6,933,702 Principal..... 9 556,757,543 TOTAL DEBT. Principal 11,703,796,270 Interest-- 11,711,537 Total ... *1,715,5J7.808 Less cash items available for reduc tion of the debt 9 221,071,553 Less reserve held for redemption of United Stated notes 100,000,000 |r THE wholesale dry goods house of Ship- ley, Doisey & Co., of Cincinnati, after fv once obtaining an extension from creditors, |r las made an assignment to S. C. Tatum, those bond was fixed at $400,000.... While at the supper-table in his home at Indianapolis, David Harris arose, seized !%s: his wife by the hair, and fired a bullet [ ' through 1 er forehead. He the n shot him- y», self. and also gashed his throat with a "knife. The couple had been married five i.~'s months, and constantly quarreled. DB. H. W. THOMAS, pastor of the Peo- l:; . pie's Chatch, of Chicago, is about to ap- P"- 'fwar in a new role, the Chicago Ledger g • haying secured the service of his pen for a Ifr.' Series of articles during the coming year, ft.,' lieaders of that widely circulated paper are jp;; to be congiatulated upon this distinguished F addition to its list of contributors. !%" E. B. BROWN, teacher of a" school in |_^.,-JBoone Townstyp, Harris n County, Ind., >.? dismissed his school a few days ago be- 0.-/ eausethree colored children presented ik themselves as pupils. The latter were as- waited by the white children, and the affair , lias caused much excitement. I • _ THE Iowa Supreme Court has affirmed | % the decisions of the lower court in all the , saloon cases from Ottumwa, including that of the notorious "Stormy" Jordan. K,- CUSTOMS officers in San Francisco found |f '* in the coal bunkers of the steamer Bio Ja- |>'t' Heiro opium valued at $20,000 Theodore f! ' p. Mize, cashier of the Chicago and Mi- nonk Coal Company, has surrendered all bis property to apply on an embezzlement • believed to be $100,000, and will retain his position L. B. Frankel <fc Co., the old- ' eet mining-stock firm in Virginia City, •* Not., failed for $91a,flfNi. The creditors include many of the most prominent share- ^ " holders in the Comstock mines. Their % ' business was enormous, the receipts being •, about $ >0,000 a day. Great excitement was ^ a " caused in Virginia City by the suspension, p ; and if the three members of th; firm bud Hot got away unpleasant consequences tnight have resulted. THE KOLTH. T** approaching Senatorial election in f Nebraska bids fair to be one of great in terest Charles H. Van Wyek has friends and opponents in both parties. It is pos sible that the Democrats will present a candidate and attempt to secure his elec tion. A SEVERE shock of earthquake disturbed the new dam of the Langley Cotton Works, in South Carolina. The dam gave way Monday afternoon, flooding the adjacent country and causing heavy damage to rail way tracks and other property. WHILE riding in the woods near Bed Biver, in the Choctaw Nation, George - Traafe came upon four negroes who had! stolen a hog and were cleaning it. To con ceal their crime they murdered Traafe. The party were arrested, and one of them confessed the crime. They were taken from the guards who had them in charge, by a party of citizens, and without cere mony strung to the nearest trees. C»-sar fiobinson, a negro, was hanged by a rush at Florence, S. C., for assaulting a white woman. A MASKED mob invaded the town of Brenham, Texas, at midnight, overpower ed the jailer, and took out Shea Felder, Alfred Jones, and Ephraim Jones, three negroes implicated in the killing of Dewees Bolton on the night of election, •ad lynched them. It was so quickly done that the town was not aroused until morning, when the bodies of the three men were found hanging to a tree. • '•* tA\ *•>« ^POLITICAL. ®§- '• •- / --- ;a2v-.,. 13. T. FREDERICK, representing the Fifth Iowa District in Congress, has resigned his S; seat because Postmaster General Vilas ap pointed a postmaster in his bailiwick at the request of Congressman Murphy... .Offi- cial notice has been filed that Congressman . Wortbington will contest the election , of Gen. P. f>. Post from the Tenth Illinois District... .A circular has just , v been issued by the National Committee i . of the United Labor organizations con- taining a declaration of their principles and objects of the industrial movement to form V a national union labor partv. The con- vsngum is to be held at Cincinnati Feb. 22, 1!» * pla^ of organization contem- pUtes the appointing of nn organizer for WmBtate and Territory in the nation; the State Organiser to appoint a district organ- »er for each Congressional district in his otat'e, and the district organizer to appoint »«U organizers. The basis of lepresenta- gives each Congressional district one IMMMentative for each of the following or- JLi-- or oreanisations in^cli districts: Total debt, less available cash items $1,391,436,234 Net cash in the Treasury 4 J,093,556 Debt, less cash in Treasury, Dec. 1, 18* *1,331,312,033 Debt, lens cash in Treasury, Nov. 1, 1886 1,354,347,947 Decrease of dent during the month •I 3,005,249 CASH IN THK TBEA8UHX. Available for reduction of debt: Gold hi Id for ({old certificates actu ally outstanding .$ 90,590,633 Silver held for silver certificates actually outstanding 103,519,817 United States notes held for certifi cates of deposit actually out standing 7,125,003 Cash held for matured debt and in- . te rest unpaid 21,001,902 Fractional currency 4,201 Total available for reduction of the debt .$ 224,071,553 Reserve fund held for redemption of United States notes, acts Jan 14. 18;r>, and July 12, 1882 S 100,000,003 Unavailable for reduction of the debt: Fractional silver coin .9 25,e03,067 Minor coin. 103,534 25,2)7,6.1 48.88VJ79 50,013,556 Total Certificates held as cash. Net cash balance on hand. Total cash in the Treasury as shown by Treasurer's general account f 439,023,740 WASHINGTON special: "Congressman Frank Lawler telegraphed in advance to the Willard Hotel: 'I will be with yon Monday night with my sweet sixteen.' The hotel clerk wondered who the 'sweet six teen' could be. He knew Frank was married, but did not think he could have a daughter of that age. When Mr. Lawler arrived he explained that 'sweet sixteen' was the majority by which he pulled throngh»in the election." LIEUT. GREELY has been made an assistant to Gen. Hazen, who is in ill- health The President has promulgated the extradition treaty with Japan, which was ratified after being amended by the t June. . jTHE RAILWAY*. THE St. Paul Boad has completed about one hundred miles of track southward from Ottumwa, on its Kansas City extension, and has praded to a point twenty-five miles south of CLillicothe J. N. Abbott, Gen eral Passenger A pent of the Erie Boad, has accepted the commissionership of the Southwestern Passenger Association at a salary of £'J,000 per annum. THE Directors of the Union Pacific Boad report a surplus of $5,429,000 on the oper ations of the first nine months of this year. At the close of December the debt of the company will be $115,270,265, or $25,070 per mile... .The Directors of the Erie Bailroad met at New York and re elected the old board of officers. The total net earnings of the road forthe year ending Sept. 30 were $7,057,8f>8. IT is rumored that within ninety days C. P. Huntington will acquire entrance to Chi cago for the Chesapeake and Ohio lioad by purchasing control of the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago, or concluding a traffic agreement. GENERAL. O'DONOVAN BOSSA declares that, al though he has been retired from the exec utive of the Fenian dynamite branch, there will be no letting up in the relentless dy namite warfare on England. A HERD of possibly two hundred head of buffalo is in the bad lands of Dakota, near the headwaters of Beaver and Glen- dive Creeks. It is thought that Indians drove them down from British soil. ON* her last trip from Antwerp to New York the steamer Westernland met with a frightful disaster, involving the death of six men and the infliction of serious in juries to thirteen others. A huge cross-sea was suddenly encountered and it fell with terrific force upon the forward deck of the steamship. The Westernland was then seven days out from Antwerp. The deck was crushed in and buried the unfortun ates beneath a mass of wood and iron de bris. The next instant tho water swept along the gangways of the main deck, car rying several persons with it. The crash was terrific, but before the appalling nature of tbe accident was realized by the pas sengers the officers of the ship had all the men available engaged in the work of rescue. The injured were carried to the intermediate cabin, which was transformed into a hospital. When the Westernland reached New York the injured passengers were transferred to hos pitals. An inspection of the vessel af forded some idea of the terrible blows she bad received. The ctushed deck was known as the forward whaleback. It was con structed of four-inch pine planks resting upon massive iron beams. These in turn were upheld by three-inch iron rod stanch ions. The vast volume of water struck the whaleback about fifteen feet from the stem and crushed in a section twenty-nine feet long and extending the full width of the steiuafihin. debate /npon the address The Prussian Minister of Public Works has recently published « rsport whereby it appears that the entire length of railroads of the world up to the end Of 18!S4 was 291,000 miles, of which very nearly one-half is that of the American railroads, mainly in the United States. M. BOUQUET, Secretary of the Pari* Municipal Council, having forwarded to United States Minister McLane the peti tion adopted by the Council, Nov. 29, ask ing that Governor Oglesby exercise Execu tive clemency toward the condemned Chi- chago Anarchists, Mr. McLane calls atten tion to the fart that the petition would be much more efficacious if addressed direct to the Executive of Illinois, bnt consents to transmit the same as desired. T. D. SULLIVAN has been re-elected Lord Mayor of Dubliu, and a solicitor named O'Keefe was chosen Mayor of Lim erick. Each has pledged himself to refuse any honors offered during the year by the Queen. IT is reported that the French steamship Chandernagore, with 1,200 Frehch troops on board, foundered during a oyclone near Algiers, and that i>ll hands were lost.... Spain has induced Bismarck to abandon bis proposal to establish a naval station at the Caroline Islands... .A colliery explosion in Durham, England, killed thirty miners. ADDITIONAL MEWS. JOHN C. MANN, of Minneapolis, has commenced, in a Chicago restaurant, the task of eating thirty quail in thirty consecu tive days, the wager being $1,000. Only three successes in this line udorn the records. THE St. Louis Woman's Christian Tem perance Union adopted resolutions con demning the serving of alcoholic liquors at the recent dinner given by Mrs. Whitney, wife of the Secretary of the Navy, to a number of ladies, including Mrs. Presi dent Cleveland. .. .A conference will be held at Columbus, Ohio, with ex-Senator Thurman by other counsel for the Govern ment in the Bell Telephone case as to the next leg.il steps to be taken--whether to appeal to the United States Supreme Court or commence a suit in the Massachusetts courts... .The Federal Grand Jury came in to court at Indianapolis and reported no in dictments in the matter of the local elec tion frauds. Judge Woods plainly indi cated that the jury had failed to perfoi m its duty "Jim" Cun m ngs, in his latest letter to a St. Louis paper, says lie is tired of being chased around the country by de tectives, and offers to return $25,000 of the f-tolen money if they let him go in peace.... The excitement in mining stocks continues in San Franc sco, says a dispatch from that city. The laboring classes are taking a hand in the deal, as over $4,0;H),0(K) has been withdrawn from the savings banks during the last ten days The Detroit Pipe Company's factory was destroyed by fire. Loss, $100,000. MRS. GEOBOE M. BICE, sister of "Doc" Wilson, and seventeen years older than the latter, contiaiic s Doc's story that he is the son of Philip L. Moen. She positively avers that he is her brother, and that he was named after their uncle, Levi Fessen- den Herman Falkenburg, a tailor in New York, has been held in $1,000 for ta nperin,' with a juror engaged in the case of ex-Alderman McQuade, one of the boodle gaag... .In the case of the National Saldiers' Home against Gen. B. F. Butler, tbe jury at Bo tm found a verdict for $10,- 537 against the defendant. MME. PATTI is engaged to sing five nights in January, at the National Theater in the City of Mexico. An alleged agent of Mr. Abbey put in an appearance the other day and began the sale of seats for the Patti nights at the box-office, the crowd of buyers fairly blockiug the adjoining streets. For two days the sale continued, and on the third day the alleged agent ab sconded, taking with him over $20,000, but leaving $4,200 in silver, which he could not handle comfortably. The affair has caused the wildest excitement, and the speculators and other victims keenly mourn their lost dollars. LAND-COMMISSIONER SPARKS has re ferred to the Secretary of the Interior for transmittal to Congress the report by Sur veyor General Julin, of New Mexico, of his investigation of the private land claim known as Ojo del Ainil, involviuy some 70,0!)0 acres. The Commissioner concurs with the Surveyor General in recommend ing the rejection by Congress of this claim as unfounded and unmentorious. THE corporation of Dublin adopted reso lutions denouncing the conduct of the Government in prohibiting the National League meetings at Sligo aud elsewhere. Lord Mayor Sullivan and Mr. Sexton de livered addresses. None of the Conserva tive members of the corporation were present. MB. DUFF will devote the third week of his company's engagement at McVicker's Theater to Gilbert and Sullivan revivals, says the Chicago New*. Tho first three evenings the "Mikado" will ba given, with Miss Vernona Jarbeau as Yum-Yum, Mr. Byley as * Ko-Ko, and others of the cast identified with the ad mirable performance of the Japanese opera given last season by the Duff company. The remainder of the week will be given to a revival of "Iolanthe." of which opera an elaborate production is promised. Miss Jarbeau has introduced into "The Mikado" a new brand of kisses, the noise of which resembles that made when a cow draws her foot out of the mud, and which Mr. Daif's agent states would cause an "aconite to forgat his vows." **** THE MARKETS. NEW YOKK. BEKVU f5.00 Hous.. 4.00 WHEAT--No. 1 White 87 No. 2 Ked. 88 Cons--No. 2 48 OATS--White .37 PORK--Family Mess ' 11.50 CHICAGO. BEEVES--Cnoico to Prime Steers 5.03 Good Shipping 3.75 Common 3.00 Hoos -- Shipping OESMiai., 3.75 FI.OUK--Extra Sjiring 4.00 W H EAT--No. 2 lied .78 COHN--No. 2 .38 OATB--No. 2 .27 BoTTtB-- Choice Creamery 27 Fine Dairy 18 (3 CHEESE--Full Cream, Cheddar.. .12 & Full Cream, now 12)6 31 Eoos--Fresh 22 & POTATO KS--Choice, per bu .42 Poiut--Mess 10.75 WHEAT--Cash. CoitN-- No. 2. ... OATJ--No. 2 KYK--NO. 1 POBK--Mess.... WHEAT--No. 2. CORX--Cash.... OATS--No. 2.T„. m 5.50 &> 4.50 & .88 & .89 & .40. <d> .42!$ (312.0.) & 5.50 <3 4.50 & 3. 50 lOi 4.50 @ 4.30 <3 .79 MILWAUKJSE. TOLEDO. DETUOIT. .76 .38 .27 .55 10.25 .81 .38 , .29 Qeronimo and Hit Band in Florida to , Stay--Soonu* to a Linger- ; • iaff fiMth. News eomes from Florida, where the n. cently captorea Apaches are In prison, that Geronimo, tho bloodthirsty chief of the band, is suffering from a lung affection that is extremely liable to turn into hasty con sumption. In that event nature may solve a problem that the administration is puz zled over. What to do with Geronimo is a matter that is sorely trying the wita of 38 % .27* .27 .23 •12!$ .13 .24 0 .48 @11.00 ® .77 & .38 .27>4 (3 .5556 010.75 .81 .40 I ir ?r< 0 Jf . MB. GLADSTONE declines every request to speak until Parliament reassembles. _ , , -- , His program for the coming session in- Knishtsof Labor, trades-unions. Green- eludes an immodiata challenge to the bade Lahnr party, Farmers' Alliance, I Government to state its Irish policy in the BEEF CATTXE. Hoos SHEEP WHF.AT-- Michigan Bed...- CORN--No. 2 OATS--No. 2 White _ 8T. LOUIS. WHEAT--No. 2 CORN--Mixed OATS--Mixed POKE--New Mess CINCINNATI. WHEAT--No. 2 Ked CORN-- No. 2 OATS--No. 2 POBK--Mess. LIVE Hoos BUFFALO. WHEAT--No. 1 Hard CORN--No. 3. CATTLE INDIAN AFOLI8. BEEP CATTM Hoos SHEEP WHEAT-NO. % Bed.. CORN--No. 2. ; OATS _ EAST LIBERTY. CATTLS--Best. Fair Common. Hoes- Sb».(... 4.(X) 3.00 4.00 .80 .38 .33 .79 .37 .28 10.75 .78 .as .28 11.25 4.00 .89 .43 4.00 & 5.00 <9 4.25 5.00 .82 .40 .33)4 .80 .375$ .285* @11.25 <9 .80 «$ .38<£ .30 «11.75 (.«. 4.50 0 .93 @ .44 & 5.00 8.00 @ 9.00 3.75 & 4.23 (<i. 4.00 © .775$ .355& <9 .2tl 2.50 .77 .35 ."-8 5.03 4.50 & 1.03 OEBONIMO. the high officials at Washington. The people of Arizona are clamoring for his scalp. Under the terms of capitulation it appears that Gen. Miles promised the old fellow his life. Here is where the rub comes. Geronimo is a half-breed Mexi can, and is about 50 years- old. He was captured and adopted by the Mexicans when a mere child. His health, fl^fpesenfc is said to be very delicate. .. .. [Washington special,] The fate of the Indians captured in the Miles campaign is practically settled. It was not decided when they were first sent East whether any of them would be tried for crimes or not. The President has ex amined the case very carefully, and has come to the conclusion that life confine ment for all of these Indians in Florida, where they can do no harm, will be the most thorough punishment which can be visited upon them. It is the only practical way by which they can be punished. If the criminals among them were to be singled out no military commission would have auy authority to try them. They would have to be turned over to the civil authorities in the place where the crimes were committed. It would be a travesty on justice to have these Indians tried in Arizona and New Mexico. There is not a white man in either one of those Territories who could sit in a case involving the rights of an Indian with any kind of fairness. The conviction of the criminals would leave their families untouched. These families would train up children to rewgnge the death of those who were punished, and the result would be a continuation of the outrages which for years have made life and property so inse cure in the two Territories. As a matter of fact, the five hundred Indians transferred to Florida have been sentenced to a linger ing death. They have been brought up in the mountain countries, accustomed ,to freedom in the pure, cold air of high alti tudes. Their confinement in the warm climate of Florida will simply result in their dying off like FO many sheep. Ex perienced army officers do not think that there will be one oPoBfein alive at the end of the next five years. ,,vi, M COSH AND The Presidents of Princeton and Har* vard. Presidents McCosh and Eliot, of Prince ton and Harvard Colleges, have been bronght quite prominently before the pub lic lately, on account of tbe unpleasantness growing out of Harvard's 250th anni versary celebration. New Jersey's famous educator Conceived that a grave indignity was inflicted npon him on that occasion, and in a of dudgeon turned bis book - JAMES M'COSH. npon the University halls long before the conclusion of the „ exercises. Corre spondence has passed between the two distinguished men of letters, and, so far as public protestations, explana tions and apologies go, the trouble has been smoothed over in a manner satisfac tory to both. Faithful likenesses of the men are herewith presented. James Mc Cosh, Princeton's President, is a Scotch man, is 75 years old, and was educated in the famous schools of Glasgow and Edin burgh. Charles W. Eliot, President of Harvard University, is a native of Boston^ and is CHARLES W. ELIOT. now In the fifty-third year of his age. He was prepared for college at the Boston Public Latin School, end graduated (A.B.) at Harvard in 1843. Flgum from the Annual Beport of tits Comptroller of 0» ̂ -VQ- OutfNMp. • v , The annual report of the Hon. William L. Trenholm, Comptroller of the Currency, contains suggestions for the amendment of th«i national-bank laws in about a dozen instances, including the contingent liability of shareholders, requirements as to re serve, the limit of loans to individuals, more thorough examination of banks, and their protection against unequal State taxa tion. The specific character of these sug gestions is withheld for the present. Three thousand five hundred and eighty national banks have been organized in all, of which 2,858 are now in operation. Of these 174 have been organized during the last year, with a capital of $21,- 000,000; circulation, $2,900,000. Twenty- four banks went into voluntary liquidation during the year, one ceased to exist by ex piration of charter, and eight failed. Since the beginning of the system in 18(53, only 112 national banks have failed. Of these, sixty-tbree have paid their creditors in full, and twenty have paid interest besides--fif teen in full and five in part. Over 90 per cent, of all national bank stocks is held by the residents of the i-Kate in which the bank is located, mote than 9} per cent, is held by natural persons, and 9o per cent, of the number of shareholders are natural persons. The total number of shareholders is 223,000; the total number of shares over 7,000,000. The effect of the reduction of the public debt and the high premium on bonds upon tbe volume of national bank circulation is very fully illustrated in tbe report. The contraction in national bank circulation during the year exceeds S5B,000,000. Besides the usual tables showing the con dition of national banks at various dates, the report this year contains an abstract which specifies each item of their resources and liabilities. The banks in the several States, reserve cities, and Territories, have their condition stated separately. A large diagram exhibiting the many features of the national banking system and its varia tions during the last twenty-one years ac companies the report. From this it appears that the aggregate deposits in the banks has increased from $522,000,000 in Januarv, 1886, to $1,173,000,000 in October, 1886, while Joans and discounts have risen from $500,000,000 to $1,443,000,000. The spccie held by the national banks in 1886 was $19,000,000; in October, 1875, it was only $8,000,000; while in July, 1885, it was $177,000,000, end is now $156,000,- 000. Mr. Trenholm declines to say whether his report contains any specific recom mendations in regard to a modification of the law making United States bonds the basis of the national bank currency, but it is understood at the department that he has presented a strong array of facts and figures to show how valuable the system has become to the entire country, and how important it is thit it should be made adaptable to the needs of communities in the West and South, where vast natural re sources await development by the aid of outside capital. NEEDS OF THE NAf| Admiral Porter Makes Some Sugges tions for Promoting Its Efficiency* AdmittttPorter has submitted to the Sec retary of the Navy a roport embodying sug gestions for promoting the efficiency of the navy. He says that in rehabilitating the navy there is no subject worthy of more consideration than that of home defense, and regrets that the ironclads now laid np at City Point, which are so well adapted for this purpose, should be left in the con dition they are to-day. He savs the new cruisers have given no evidence of great speed, and it is feared by those most inter ested that they never witi, which will render them useless as commerce-destroyers. The Admiral says we require for the navy the following classes of vessels: The first-class should be represented by vessels of not less than 6,000 nor more than 8,000 tons, and able to make for a few hours a speed of nineteen and one-half knots. The second-da«s, to serve as flag ships on foreign stations, should be vessels of not less than 4,500 nor more than 5,000 tons, able to make for a few hours a speed of nineteen knots. The tbird-class should be vessels of 3,000 tons, able to make for a few hours a speed of eighteen knots. Tbe Admiral remarks that the proposed thirteen-knot gunboat with four guns could not overtake anything, aud a powerful Chi nese gunboat would be more than a match for her. The United States is making the same mistakes as European powers have made in building so many different classes of ves sels at the outset, without knowing whether any of them will meet the requirements of a cruiser of the present day. No nation, he says, can dispense with forts, but it is better to depend upon a navy to protect our coasts. Instead of maintaining so small a force of ironclads as we have at present, every year we should construct three or four double-turreted monitors, no matter if we do not build any cruisers in the meantime. Admiral Porter says that he has seen enough of torpedoes to know that two or three hundred pounds of gun-cotton ex ploded under a ship--no matter what her size--is bound to sink her or place her hors de combat. Yankee ingenuity, if stimulated by the prospect of a sufficient reward, would no doubt soon give us a superior torpedo. He commends the Ericcson torpedo, and says what we re quire to fire such a toipedo is the fastest vessel in the world--something that tor pedo destroyers can not overtake. The report treats of the reorganization of the different branches of the navy, and especially of the Navy Department. The Admiral takes strong ground in favor of the Government encouraging the private shipyards of the country by giving them all the work possible to enable them to im prove the plants so that in time of wav they can aid the Government in building and repairing vessels. He also advocat$g a Government iron shipbuilding yard. MORE POSTOFFICE FIGURES. JOBXXT says he Is his mother's esaos, sod she is always able to paddle it.--Afst chant Traveller. :/4 Large Increase In PoHtal Revenue* and De crease in Expenditure* Expected. Third Assistant Postmaster General Hazen, in his annual report to the Post master General, sefers to the encouraging outlook for the current year, and says that there is scarcely a doubt that it will realize a still greater improvement in the postal revenue. The report says that additional revenues may be expected from the exten sion of the special deli\ ery system, the ad mission of liquids as mail matter, and the important reduction in the price of stamped envelopes under contracts recently entered into. For the next fiscal year he estimates the deficiency of revenue at $4,729,553, which is only $824,014 more than for the year ended June 30, 1884, and $2,175,WL3 less than for the year ended June 30, 1885. The estimated amounts chargeable to the general Treasury for the current and the next fiscal years will probably be greatly reduced, both by an increase of the esti mated postal revenue and by a decrease of the estimated expenditures. From this the report argues that with a prosperous condi tion of the business of the country to fa vorably influence the revenue, and with a continned exercise of care in regulating the expenditures, the postal service will again at no distant day become a self-supporting institution. Boport of tbe Oorernmsnt Diiectora as te 'XH Financial Condition--Increased | laroings. The report of the Government Directors of the Union Pacific Railway Shows that the surplus earnings of the entire system, comprising 4,531 miles, for tha nine months ended September 30, aftc r deduct ing operating expenses and taxes, was $6,145,242. To this must be added income and profit from investments, land sales, etc., which brings the total income up to $8,118,020. From this must be deducted: Interest on bonds $3,867,813 07,121 465,395 953,517 43,523 Discount and interest premiums... Sinking-fund requirements, eompanj's bond Interest on bonds of operated roada.... Land taxes and land expenses. Union Division One-half of loss in operating Leaven worth, Topeka and Southwestern Railway 11,721 Total $5,129,090 This leaves a net surplus of $2,688,927, from which deduct $500,000 for United States requirements, leaving a surplus bal ance of $2,188,927. Compared with the first nine months of 1885, the gross earn ings increased $881,056, or 4.8 per cent. The passenger earnings increased $281,- 308 and the freight earnings $657,777. The mail earnings show a decrease of $8,740, the express earning! $8,663, and the miscellantous earnings $40,625. The increase in operating expenses was $1,189,020, or 10 per cent., of which $708,- 916 was for maintenance of way ex penses and $153,890 for car expenses. On the average road mileage the gross earn ings per mile rose from $4,075 in 1885 to $4,230 in 1886, an increase of $155, or 3.8 per cent. The Pacific coast earnings, which in 1885 represented 8.8 per cent, of the total, fell off in 1886 to a point where they represent but 7.4 per cent. The earnings of the Bystem from traffic inter changed with its branch-line system for twelve months were in gross $5,- 220,938, or about 30 per cent, of the total earnings of the parent company. As this traffic is done at less average cost than its other business, the net earnings from it are estimated at over $3,- 000,000, or 50 per cent, of the total net earnings. This is in addition to the net earnings of the branch lines themselves, after paying all fixed charges, which were $4,493,459 for the nine months of 1886, and indicates the vital importance of the branch- line system to the main system. The follow ing is a comparative statement of the funded and other debts of the entire system! Dec. 30, 1886: Funded debt in the hands of the public.. 8147,408,230 Add Union Pacific bonds in its treas ury 579,170 Total fnnded debtk......*,*,^4*..>147,887,450 Deduct cash resources,.... 2,772,9J4 Balance of debt.................; .8145,214, *46 Deduct land-grant assets 29, *43,981 Debt in excess of land assets $115,270,565 Miles of road 4,597 Debt per mile 525,070 The mileage and debts of the Central branch and the St. Joseph and Grand Island Company are not included in this statement. ROBERT G. INGERSOLL. Portrait of the Noted Lawyer and Agnostic. The convicted Chicago anarchists have lately made au unsuccessful effort to enlist the services of Col. Robert G. Ingersoll in the legal battle for their lives. He has thus far declined to take part in the celebrated case, on the ground that ho has not the time to spare. Col. Ingersoll is a native of Dresden, N. Y., where he was born in 1833. When twelve years old, he accompanied his parents to Illinois, where he was edu cated and applied himself to the study of the law. He ran as a Democratic candi date for Congress in 18(>0, but was defeat ed.. In 1862 he entered the army as Colo nel of a regiment of cavalry, and was taken prisoner, but was exchanged. Retur ing to civil life he became a Republican, and in 1868 was made Attorney General of Illinois. At the Republican convention of 1876 his speech, in proposing Mr. Blaine's name for the Presidency, aroused general attention for its eloquence, and since that time Col. Ingersoll lias been prominent before the country as an orator. His law practice is very extensive and his fees large. It is said that Stephen W. Dorsey paid him the enor mous sum of $100,000 for his services in tigs'titar-Route trial. JAT GOULD'S PARTNER. \ Famous Speculator Kettares from Busi ness. A recent New York dispatch states that Washington E. Connor, one of the most prominent speculators in Wall, street, and , for many years the confidential partner of Jay Gould, has retireu from active business and will go to Europe for a sea son of rest and rec reation. Though barely forty years of age, he has accumu lated a very hand some fortune, and; now prefers to de vote himself to man aging his own affairs^ rather than continue to discharge the ardu ous duties that devolve upon the head of an active stock brokerage house. U His Statement «f the Condition of tib . .JNtto Railroads--An Intenst- -**' ,v"#: General Joseph E. Johnston, Commit-* sioner of Railroads, in his annual report- says that tbe Union Pacific is a first-class road, and in excellent condition. The financial state of the toad is summarised as follows: Total debt. fim,<9s,9n> Capital stock 60,866,501 Total stock and debt..............1820,307,792 Total assets 333 945,269 Surplus 33,637,*77 Among tbe assets is $21,604,141, claimed by the company, repaid to the United States. Treasury Department reports show settled accounts and money paid into the Treasury June 30, 1886, aggregating $20,- 674,414, or $929,727 less than the amount claimed by the company. The company's credits are increased, however, by accumu lated interest on sinking-fund investmen 8, $448,500, making the total credits Jtune 30, 1886, $21,422,914. The gross earnings of the Union Division "for the year 1883 were $12,215,484; ex penditures allowed under the Thurman act, $7,761,605, leaving $4,453,879 as net earn ings, of which the Government is entitled to 25 per cent., or $1,113,469. The amount found due from the Kansas Division is $141,019, making a total of $l,2i>4,489 due from both divisions. The funded debt of the Union Pacific Company June 30,1886. was $115,048,189, as againet $116,441,797 tho year before, a net decrease of $1,393,- 807. The revenue of the Uni6n Pacific Company for the year end d Dec. 31,1885, was $25,066,836; expenditures, $21,944,- 904; surplus, $3,121,932; surplus, excluding expenditures for new con struction and equipment, $3,344,- 281. The net earnings were $8,404,676. against $8,941,909 in 1884. The net earn ings of its auxiliary lines for the year 1885- were $1,362,774, against $l,847,2«5in 1884. The property of the Central Pacific Com pany the Commissioner found in excellent condition. The gross earnings of the "Pa cific system" for the year ended June 30, 1886, compared with those of the preced ing year, show a decrease of $449,299, yet the net earnings increased $2,430,512, o* 31.8 per cent. The financial condition of the road June 30, 1886, is summarized as follows: Total debt.... ..8122,148,518 Capital stock 59,275^00 Total stock and debt..... . 5181,424,u38 Total assets 187.433,178; Surplus 0,0j9,140 The sinking funds of the Union and Cen tral Pacific Companies June 30, 1886, held by the Treasurer of the United States, amounted to $9,658,713, the Union Pacific having to its credit $6,419,351, and the -Central Pacific $3,239,351. The following statement shows the total amounts produced under existing laws, and also tbe interest paid by the United States on account of the subsidy bonds since July 1,1878: Union Pacific--Interest account, $J,567,494; sinking-fuud account, $3,696,- 040. Total, $12,262,535. Interest paid by the United States, $15,092,780. Central Pacific, including Western Pacific--Interest account, $2,6*20,401; sinking-fund account, $2,949,883. Total, $5,570,284. Interest paid by the United States, $12,535,056. The toial amount of interest paid by the United States on account of the subsidy bonds up to June 30, 1886, was $70,854,- 325, an excess over sums due tbe rood of $40,104,229. Of the Northern Pacific Railroid Com pany the Commissioner says that the mile age June 30 last was 2.801; that of the seventy-five miles unfinished on the Cas cade Division probably only five miles will be left at the end of the year. The tirtal number of acres of land received by tho company from the United States June 30, 1886, was 11,459,830, of which 5,830,871 „have been sold. From these sales the com pany h is received $20,836,000, and there is : outstanding on time sales $3,676,204. Tho itotal debt of the company June 30, 1886, was $82,326,925; capital stock, $87,058,- 310. Total stock and debt, $169,385,234. ( Total assets, $169,588,393; surplus, $203,- 159. The earnings of the road for the year ended June 30, 1886, were $11,730,527; expenses, $6,156,263; net earnings, $5,574,- 265, an increase of $536,414, or 10.M per cent, over last year. •, W CRUISERS AND GUNBOATS. Bid* f&^Thelr Construction Accepted bjr tlw Secretary of the Nafjr. [Washington special.] The Secretary of the Navy bos accept ed the following bids for the construction of the new cruisers and gunboats: Cruiser No. 2 (Charleston), Union Iron Works of San Francisco, at $1,017,-500;'cruiser No. 3 (Baltimore),Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia, $1,325,000; gunboat No. 2, the Columbia Iron Works and Dry Dock Company, of Baltimore, $247,000. in the case of gun boat No. 1 no decision has yet been reach ed as between the bid of Reeder & Sons and the bid of Cramp & Sons. The Union Iron Works, of San Francisco, put in the lowest bid on cruiser No. 1 (the Newark), but as the figures exceeded the maximum amount fixed in tbe appropriation bill, tbe Secretary was unable to accept their bid. He will probably refer the matter to Con gress, and recommend that the appropria tion be increased, or that the Government be authorized to build the vessel at one of the navy yards. HIE AGRICULTURAL REPORT. '"What Commissioner Colman Say About Pleuro-Pneu- monia. • - -- 4 ; - i \ Norman J; Colman, CottttttMtmer of Agriculture, in his annual report, describes in general terms the progress made in agri culture during recent years and the condi tions which contribute to make this "the best-fed nation on the globe." He urges the passage of the bill now before Congress for the establishment of agricultural ex perimental stations in connection with the agricultural colleges. In commenting upon the work of the bureau of animal industry, he describes the spread of pleuro-pneumo nia, and says: "Every effort possible under existing laws has been made to locate the diseased animals and isolate all that have been ex posed. It would have been most fortunate if every animal exposed to the disease and liable to contract it could have been sum marily slaughtered and the contagion thus eradicated. With a disease of this character at Chicago, it has been truly said that the cattle industry of this country has reached a crisis. There can be no doubt that it will be soon and widely disseminated unless prompt and effectual action can be instituted for its speedy suppres sion. Even now it may have been scatter* ed to some extent in the West, and the in vestigations of the next year will probably bring other outbreaks to light. The mat ter is a most important one, overshadowing in urgency all others affecting our agricul tural population, and of vital interest also to every consumer of beef, of milk, of butter, and of cheese. 10 prevent ino spread of this scourg", which has already greatly affected our foreign and intestate commerce, additional legislation by Con gress is how essential. "Much valuable work has already been done in Maryland, and the danger of tho dissemination of the contagion from that State has been greatly lessened. No work has been done in tbe State of New York, because it was evident that the appropria tion was not sufficient to secure any favor able results there on account of tbe infec tion. The disease also exists in New Jer sey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, bnt the State authorities have not yet accepted tho rules aud regulations of the department for co-operation. I greatly regret tho necessity of announcing the existence of this dangerous disease over such a wide area, but the serious results to be appre hended from it make it imperative that tho truth should be known, in order that 6uclk legislative action may be taken as is indi cated by the emergency." Upon forestry he says tbere is practically no reproduction attempted or forest plant ing done worth mentioning, in comparison with the enormous annual consumption. He suggests that the Government set a good example by planting on a large scale in the treeless States and Territories in ftR* West. . . A YOUNG woman informed her three- lovers that she would marry the first one that presented himself the next day. Two of the suitors were brothers, and tbe other was playing a lone hand. Tbe latter pro cured his license, and was on hand befsse the others. The girl kept her word, s^Ml when one of tbe belated brothers appeared ihe cerc mony was g^oing op, while the other >n ta kiss the 3'1 *