Volume 23 (1871) (426 pages)

July 15, 1871.) . SCIENTIFIC PRESS: 19 {GoRRESPON DENCE. Ageing Wine. Eps. Puess:—Your second article on the agcing of wino was read with much intercst, as that has been to mo a subject of considerable thought and study. Isit claimed a3 n new invention that wine cau be improved or aged by motion and heat? T remember having read, over twenty-five years ago, of wine being sent in casks, to the West Indies, and the cask being shing to a frame made for the purpose, and then swung backand forth forntime or until by esposnre to the heat of the sun, with tho agitafion, a certain condition or improvement was produced, I have now hefore me a work on wines, published in London in 1860, In the article on Madeira wino I find the following : “Some seem to consider that heat and motion alone are suflicient to give the desired age, and I have hoard of a cotton lord who nsed to sling his wines to the beams of his factory engines fora few months, and then pass off his wines ns Fast India particular.” Heat and motion havo been tried and no doubt thoroughly, and I think pressure has been recommended before, so that it is evident that we have something yet to learn in wine making or rather agcing wine. I must confess that lam skeptical of any process being found that will accomplish the desired object—exeept ina limited degree. Grape juice is a very complicated liquid, and the changes that ocenr in it are hut imperfectly undcrsteed. Lhe chemist, Miller, says that, the ageing of wine depends partly ou the gradual fermentation of sugar, and partly on the slow separation of saline matters, principally in the form of bitartate of potassa, and the change of minute quantities of fragrant and ardmatic ethers, supposed to he produced by the reactiou of vegetable acids on the alcoholic part of wine. Now we know that, the formation of a certain quantity of aleohol checks the fermentation; and we also know that a further change does gradually take plnce, resulting in improvement in the quality of the wine; and that change is ascribed to a slow continucd fermentation, for want of a better or more necurntely defining term. The formation of the hoquet of wiue, we can better understand from the method pursued in the manufacture of artificial fruit essences. That there are changes occurring in wine, other than those produced hy fermentation, I can readily believe. The druggist has two methods of making tinctures, viz., percolation and maceration. By the first method the ingredients of which the tincture is to he made, nre packed in tho displncement funnel, and the liquid poured on gradually, and as it percolntes downward, cach fresh portion of the liquid displaces tho preceding, nll-ready saturated portion; now by this method the materials may be entirely exhausted, and yet the slower process of maceration (which is hy allowing the mixed liquid and solid materials of which tho tincture is to he made, to stand for some timo hefore filtering off), makes, where nromatics are among the inercdients used, possihly not so strong, but a decidedly more aromatic and fragrant tincture. Apparently the different aromas nre more perfcctly hlended together; aud in making perfumes wo notice the same hlending, hy time, of the various odors used, showing that some change is continually going on. Now some similar action, no douht, occurs in wine that produces the condition wo call ‘‘age,” after the rapid fermentation is checked. But can that condition be the result of fermentation ? Can that chemical action, the result of which is the deposit of its contained salts, hitartrate of potassa and tartrate of lime, he called fermentation ? It seems evident that the condition of permanence may he ohtained hy the destruction or rather oxidation of the germs which are the active agents of any change or fermentation occuring in wine, and which germs are not all oxidised during the first or primary fermentation of the grape juice. I would suggest, as an experiment that, on the occurrence of the succeeding fermentation thorough, systematic and prolonged agitation he inade by any suitable method so as to expose the wine to the action of the oxygen of the air, as rapidly as possible. No doubt the heat induced in the wine by the process of fermoutation would be increased by the consequent rapid oxidation caused by the thorongh and constant admixturo of the air during the process, and tho result of such action, at the higher temperature, would be the perfect oxidation of ull matter susceptible of sneh ehnnge, and a permanent wine would be produced; provided, however, that tho wine subjected to such action contained sufficient sugar to furnish the necessary quantity of alcohols; for unless the sugar isin sullicient amount, no process will make a wine of keeping quality—the acetons fermentation following rapidly the vinous in such cases. But I confess I am skeptical as to the pessible armount of improvemcut hy any quick process. A_ year or two of apparent age may be gained; but I doubt if tho delicate and gradual proecsses of nature can he thus imitated. VINo. Sacramento, July 5th, 1871. Water Pipes for Domestic Service, Eprrors Press:—There is a question in my mind which scems to be of suflicient general interest to warrant an answer through the columns of your paper. What kind of pipe for conducting water for use ina family is the best, especially in the very importaut matter of health? All through the mouutains lead pipe is almost universally used. In this vicinity the water is constantly flewing through the pipe intoa reservoir. In such cases can the water be appreciably poisoned? Common gas pipe (iron) is also used, hut if the water remains still, it often is colored with rust when drawn off. Will the pipe rust to hurt if the water is constantly flowiug? hest kind of pipe, if ncither tho common lead or iron pipe, please say if it can be got in Sau Francisco. As health is the greatest physical blessing, it seems to me if lead pipe is injurious that the hest substitute should he generally known. I have been told that the common galvanized iron pipe is worse for use than lead pipe; also galvanized sheet iron when used for tanks. Is lead pipe lined with tin any better? As our water all through the foot-hills is brought from springs in metallic pipe, the question is, wat is hest, ns wooden logs are generally out of the question. W. 0. Smartsville, June 10th, 1871. The use of galvanized irou pipe is dangerous, and cases of poisoning arc now well proved to have arisen from this article. Galvanized iron pipe is iron pipo coated with zinc. The zine is changed by the action of most kiuds of water to an oxide, carbonate or chloride, which are poisonous salts. We thorefore warn our correspondent ngainst the article either for conducting pipes or for tnnks. Lead pipe is the cheapest and most easily manufactured, and has often heen used with impunity for long periods of time. But pure water has hecn shown to act quite energetically on it. Most waters, especially spring watcr, however, contain carbonic acid. The action is this: At first the lead is oxidized to a poisonous oxide of lead. If the water contains enough carhonic acid, this is changed further to the insoluhle carbonate of lead, which coats the interior of the pipe, and thus protects it against further action. But organic or alkaline matter acts as a solvent on this carhonate. The gist of the subject is that lead pipe is uot necessarily dangerous. But in order to he on the safe side, a chemical analysis of the water uscd is to he recommended. This will show whether it is safo or not. Tin-lined lead pipe has no advantage over lead pipe, hut the reverse is rather tho case, a8 the combination of the two metals hasteus the chemical action of tho water, Tin pipe, i. e., of block tiu, is safo. It is readily acted upon hy some waters, but the salts are not poisonous. The pipe is. however, very expensive. Iron pipe is perfectly safe. The only objection to it is that it rusts, is therefore not very durahle, fills up, and, as our correspondent has remarked, often stains the water. But coating the pipe with asphaltum is said to protect against rust. Sections of iron pipe laid hy the Spring Valley Company for conveying water to this city, which had been thus coated (by dipping in boiling asphaltum), have heen found in excellent condition after lying ten years, Other material can douhtless be used with advantage. When you inform us as to the]: Cireular Instructions. To GIVE EFFECTTO THE ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED MAnCH J, 1871, DIRECTING DEPOS1TS TO BE MADE FOR THE SURVEY OF PUBLic LANDS, TO GO 1N PART PAYMENT OF THE LANDS THUS SURVEYED. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Generat Lanp Orricr, May 6, 1871. } (fentlemen:—By an Act of Congress approved March 3d, 1871, entitled ‘‘ An act to amend au act entitled ‘ An act to reduce the expenses of the survey and sale of the public lands in the United States,’” approved May 30, 1862, the following became a provisiou of law: “Sro. 11. And be it further enacted, That all such cases where settlers shall make deposits in avcordance with the act, to the eredit of the United States, for public surveys, such amounts so deposited shall go in part payment for their lands situated in the townships, the surveying of which is paid for out of said deposits, and cffect shall he given to tlis act by regulations to be prescribed hy the Commissioner of the General Land Office.” In order to gather the foregoing into effect, the following regulations are prescribed for your ohseryance, viz: When one or more settlers on public lands shall apply to the Surveyor General of the district within which such lands are situated, for the survey of a particular township, at his or their expense, that ollicer shall furnish to said applicant or applicants two separate estimates, one heing the cost of the suhdivisional survey of the surveyahle portiou of the entiro township, and the other to cover the expense of platting the survey as required hy the 10th section, act of May 30, 1862, and the resoIntien explanatory of the same of July 1, 1864. (U.S. Laws, vol. 10, p. 410, and vol. 11, p. 414, respectively.) Settlers availing themselves of the provisions of the ahove quoted section shall depesit with a United Stntes designated depository to the credit of the U. S. Treasurer, on account of surveying the puhlic lands and clerk hire in the Surveyor General’s office, in the district in which their claims are situated, the sums estimated as aforesaid, at the cest of the field and office work. The Surveyor General will take precaution to estimate adequate sums, therehy preventing any deficiency in the payment of deputy surveyor, as well as for clerk hire involved in the service. Where several settlers desire the survey of the same township, the necessary depos its to cover all expenses of the survey and platting may he so suhdivided as to be proportionate to the amount of lands. within the township claimed hy each settler; this, however, isa matter to be regnlated hy parties applying for such surveys, hut all applicants should be informed that the law makes no provision for the refunding of any excess of the deposit over the value of the lands taken; the excess, however, if any, over and above the actual cost of the survey in the fieldand office work will be refunded as heretofore under the resolution of Congress of July 1, 1864. (U.S. Laws, vol. 11, p. 414.) No certificate of deposit can be received in payment by the Receiver for more than the cost of the land at Government price, and when the certificate is for more than that amount, the Receiver will indorse the amount for which it is received, and will charge the United States with that sum only, and vot with the sum named on the faco of the certificate. Where the amount of deposit is, however, dess than the cost of the land, the certificate will of course he received at its fnee value, and the remainder of cost of land paid for in cash, Assuming that the estimated cost of survey (hoth offico and field work) is $850, which amount the party deposits, and the actual cost is $800; the party will be entitled. under the act of July 1, 1864, tothe $50 thus deposited in excess of the actual cost of the field and offico work; hut he will not he eutitled to tho return of the $600 deposited in excess of the Government cost of one hundred aud sixty acres at $1.25 per acre (amounting to $200.) If, hofever, there are several applicants, the amounts deposited by each can be equitahly arranged among themselves, provided, of course, the aggregate deposits cover the ostimated expenses of the survey and incidontal clerk hire. The Surveyor General shall distinctly state to the applicant thnt the application for survey and depositing of the money will give no preference right to the land where adverse claims exist and that all contests relative to lands applied for, whenever they arise, must he investigated and passed upon hy a proper local land office before pre-emption entry can he allowed or the deposit credited to the depositing settler, as tho beucfits conferred by the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1871, hereinbefore cited, innre exclusively to preemptors under existing laws, In making his monthly and quarterly returus, the Receiver shall designate the lands in payment for which certificates of deposit wero used by settlers under the law, describing separately iu lis receipts the amounts of such pnyments and the halauces paid in cash, if any occur, crediting the United States in said returns with the acres and purchase moncy of the lands embraced by the class of entries allnded to, and debiting the sume with the amounts of the respective deposits applied in payment therefore, as shown by the certificates of deposit which aro to be sent np as vouchers with appropriate quarterly accounts. Very respectfully, Wiis Druwmonp, Commissioner. To the Surveyors General, Registers and Receivers. A Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury. To tho Hon. Grorcre 8, Bourweun, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir:—It is curreutly reported, nnd very generally believed, that Mi. Richardson, the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and Mr. Spinner, the Treasurer of the United States, are to spend the coming summer in Europe, there to assist in making arrangements for disposing of the new United States hends te foreign capitalists. If tbis be the case, is it not an acknowledgment, on your part, that there is in this country an inadequate supply of money? Certainly it is; for, if we hnve enongn here, why send ahread to beg it in exchange fer honds, and pay to foreigners interest for itsuse? Making this ncknowledgment, as you then clearly do, how can you logically and consistently aveid the conclusicn that the time has now arrived when the country should have more currency? How can it he mere readily or more cheaply ohtained thanby the governmeni itself furnishing it? Why not, then, promptly and energetically advocate the reversal of the policy of your predecessor, Mr. McCulloch, and urge the reissue of the greenbacks which he retired ? It will, perhaps, he said that this is not the road to specie paymeuts. Is your proposed policy such? Will you, with that policy, aid in the accomplishment of tbat result? Is an increase of our already enormous and alarming foreign iudehtedness going to carry us forward a single step in that direction? Will it not rather retard us? and is the government doing its duty—is it following a wise policy in entering into competition with tbe railroad companies and those others who constitute the great army of American horrowers in foreign lands, and in forging additional chains wherewith this and future generations shall he held in finnncial hondage to European money lenders ? The government and the railroad kings having made up their minds thnt they will have move nnd cheaper money than the couutry has now to offer, I would most respectfully ask you whether, in your opinion, that point has not been reached where THE PEOPLE who also suffer for the want of an ahundant and cheap supply of mouey, ard cannot go abroad for it, should demand of their rulers that they nlso shall have more, and that it be furnished at home, and hy the governmeut itself? Why not yourself demand of Congress this addition to our currency as 2 mcans of heading off the wild scramble for Kuropean loans now fairly innugurated, and threatening such disaster?” Can so cniled ‘‘inflation” portend so great evils as a mountain of foreign indehtedness. Most earnestly inviting your serious consideration of these interesting and important questions, I_ have tho houor to be, Yours respectfully, Henry Carry Barrp. Philadelphia, 406 Walnut street, May 23, 1871. New Enouanp Earraquares.—W. T. Brigham states that, since 1638, 227 earthquakes have heen recorded as happening in New England, and four previous ones are mentioned in Indian traditions. He thinks that prohahly there were once volcanoes in New England, and particularly in Connecticut. Prof. Dana dissents from this opinion. Maxrrsosaum is said to have heen found in Patagonia.

July 15, 1871.) . SCIENTIFIC PRESS: 19 {GoRRESPON DENCE. Ageing Wine. Eps. Puess:—Your second article on the agcing of wino was read with much intercst, as that has been to mo a subject of considerable thought and study. Isit claimed a3 n new invention that wine cau be improved or aged by motion and heat? T remember having read, over twenty-five years ago, of wine being sent in casks, to the West Indies, and the cask being shing to a frame made for the purpose, and then swung backand forth forntime or until by esposnre to the heat of the sun, with tho agitafion, a certain condition or improvement was produced, I have now hefore me a work on wines, published in London in 1860, In the article on Madeira wino I find the following : “Some seem to consider that heat and motion alone are suflicient to give the desired age, and I have hoard of a cotton lord who nsed to sling his wines to the beams of his factory engines fora few months, and then pass off his wines ns Fast India particular.” Heat and motion havo been tried and no doubt thoroughly, and I think pressure has been recommended before, so that it is evident that we have something yet to learn in wine making or rather agcing wine. I must confess that lam skeptical of any process being found that will accomplish the desired object—exeept ina limited degree. Grape juice is a very complicated liquid, and the changes that ocenr in it are hut imperfectly undcrsteed. Lhe chemist, Miller, says that, the ageing of wine depends partly ou the gradual fermentation of sugar, and partly on the slow separation of saline matters, principally in the form of bitartate of potassa, and the change of minute quantities of fragrant and ardmatic ethers, supposed to he produced by the reactiou of vegetable acids on the alcoholic part of wine. Now we know that, the formation of a certain quantity of aleohol checks the fermentation; and we also know that a further change does gradually take plnce, resulting in improvement in the quality of the wine; and that change is ascribed to a slow continucd fermentation, for want of a better or more necurntely defining term. The formation of the hoquet of wiue, we can better understand from the method pursued in the manufacture of artificial fruit essences. That there are changes occurring in wine, other than those produced hy fermentation, I can readily believe. The druggist has two methods of making tinctures, viz., percolation and maceration. By the first method the ingredients of which the tincture is to he made, nre packed in tho displncement funnel, and the liquid poured on gradually, and as it percolntes downward, cach fresh portion of the liquid displaces tho preceding, nll-ready saturated portion; now by this method the materials may be entirely exhausted, and yet the slower process of maceration (which is hy allowing the mixed liquid and solid materials of which tho tincture is to he made, to stand for some timo hefore filtering off), makes, where nromatics are among the inercdients used, possihly not so strong, but a decidedly more aromatic and fragrant tincture. Apparently the different aromas nre more perfcctly hlended together; aud in making perfumes wo notice the same hlending, hy time, of the various odors used, showing that some change is continually going on. Now some similar action, no douht, occurs in wine that produces the condition wo call ‘‘age,” after the rapid fermentation is checked. But can that condition be the result of fermentation ? Can that chemical action, the result of which is the deposit of its contained salts, hitartrate of potassa and tartrate of lime, he called fermentation ? It seems evident that the condition of permanence may he ohtained hy the destruction or rather oxidation of the germs which are the active agents of any change or fermentation occuring in wine, and which germs are not all oxidised during the first or primary fermentation of the grape juice. I would suggest, as an experiment that, on the occurrence of the succeeding fermentation thorough, systematic and prolonged agitation he inade by any suitable method so as to expose the wine to the action of the oxygen of the air, as rapidly as possible. No doubt the heat induced in the wine by the process of fermoutation would be increased by the consequent rapid oxidation caused by the thorongh and constant admixturo of the air during the process, and tho result of such action, at the higher temperature, would be the perfect oxidation of ull matter susceptible of sneh ehnnge, and a permanent wine would be produced; provided, however, that tho wine subjected to such action contained sufficient sugar to furnish the necessary quantity of alcohols; for unless the sugar isin sullicient amount, no process will make a wine of keeping quality—the acetons fermentation following rapidly the vinous in such cases. But I confess I am skeptical as to the pessible armount of improvemcut hy any quick process. A_ year or two of apparent age may be gained; but I doubt if tho delicate and gradual proecsses of nature can he thus imitated. VINo. Sacramento, July 5th, 1871. Water Pipes for Domestic Service, Eprrors Press:—There is a question in my mind which scems to be of suflicient general interest to warrant an answer through the columns of your paper. What kind of pipe for conducting water for use ina family is the best, especially in the very importaut matter of health? All through the mouutains lead pipe is almost universally used. In this vicinity the water is constantly flewing through the pipe intoa reservoir. In such cases can the water be appreciably poisoned? Common gas pipe (iron) is also used, hut if the water remains still, it often is colored with rust when drawn off. Will the pipe rust to hurt if the water is constantly flowiug? hest kind of pipe, if ncither tho common lead or iron pipe, please say if it can be got in Sau Francisco. As health is the greatest physical blessing, it seems to me if lead pipe is injurious that the hest substitute should he generally known. I have been told that the common galvanized iron pipe is worse for use than lead pipe; also galvanized sheet iron when used for tanks. Is lead pipe lined with tin any better? As our water all through the foot-hills is brought from springs in metallic pipe, the question is, wat is hest, ns wooden logs are generally out of the question. W. 0. Smartsville, June 10th, 1871. The use of galvanized irou pipe is dangerous, and cases of poisoning arc now well proved to have arisen from this article. Galvanized iron pipe is iron pipo coated with zinc. The zine is changed by the action of most kiuds of water to an oxide, carbonate or chloride, which are poisonous salts. We thorefore warn our correspondent ngainst the article either for conducting pipes or for tnnks. Lead pipe is the cheapest and most easily manufactured, and has often heen used with impunity for long periods of time. But pure water has hecn shown to act quite energetically on it. Most waters, especially spring watcr, however, contain carbonic acid. The action is this: At first the lead is oxidized to a poisonous oxide of lead. If the water contains enough carhonic acid, this is changed further to the insoluhle carbonate of lead, which coats the interior of the pipe, and thus protects it against further action. But organic or alkaline matter acts as a solvent on this carhonate. The gist of the subject is that lead pipe is uot necessarily dangerous. But in order to he on the safe side, a chemical analysis of the water uscd is to he recommended. This will show whether it is safo or not. Tin-lined lead pipe has no advantage over lead pipe, hut the reverse is rather tho case, a8 the combination of the two metals hasteus the chemical action of tho water, Tin pipe, i. e., of block tiu, is safo. It is readily acted upon hy some waters, but the salts are not poisonous. The pipe is. however, very expensive. Iron pipe is perfectly safe. The only objection to it is that it rusts, is therefore not very durahle, fills up, and, as our correspondent has remarked, often stains the water. But coating the pipe with asphaltum is said to protect against rust. Sections of iron pipe laid hy the Spring Valley Company for conveying water to this city, which had been thus coated (by dipping in boiling asphaltum), have heen found in excellent condition after lying ten years, Other material can douhtless

be used with advantage. When you inform us as to the]: Cireular Instructions. To GIVE EFFECTTO THE ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED MAnCH J, 1871, DIRECTING DEPOS1TS TO BE MADE FOR THE SURVEY OF PUBLic LANDS, TO GO 1N PART PAYMENT OF THE LANDS THUS SURVEYED. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Generat Lanp Orricr, May 6, 1871. } (fentlemen:—By an Act of Congress approved March 3d, 1871, entitled ‘‘ An act to amend au act entitled ‘ An act to reduce the expenses of the survey and sale of the public lands in the United States,’” approved May 30, 1862, the following became a provisiou of law: “Sro. 11. And be it further enacted, That all such cases where settlers shall make deposits in avcordance with the act, to the eredit of the United States, for public surveys, such amounts so deposited shall go in part payment for their lands situated in the townships, the surveying of which is paid for out of said deposits, and cffect shall he given to tlis act by regulations to be prescribed hy the Commissioner of the General Land Office.” In order to gather the foregoing into effect, the following regulations are prescribed for your ohseryance, viz: When one or more settlers on public lands shall apply to the Surveyor General of the district within which such lands are situated, for the survey of a particular township, at his or their expense, that ollicer shall furnish to said applicant or applicants two separate estimates, one heing the cost of the suhdivisional survey of the surveyahle portiou of the entiro township, and the other to cover the expense of platting the survey as required hy the 10th section, act of May 30, 1862, and the resoIntien explanatory of the same of July 1, 1864. (U.S. Laws, vol. 10, p. 410, and vol. 11, p. 414, respectively.) Settlers availing themselves of the provisions of the ahove quoted section shall depesit with a United Stntes designated depository to the credit of the U. S. Treasurer, on account of surveying the puhlic lands and clerk hire in the Surveyor General’s office, in the district in which their claims are situated, the sums estimated as aforesaid, at the cest of the field and office work. The Surveyor General will take precaution to estimate adequate sums, therehy preventing any deficiency in the payment of deputy surveyor, as well as for clerk hire involved in the service. Where several settlers desire the survey of the same township, the necessary depos its to cover all expenses of the survey and platting may he so suhdivided as to be proportionate to the amount of lands. within the township claimed hy each settler; this, however, isa matter to be regnlated hy parties applying for such surveys, hut all applicants should be informed that the law makes no provision for the refunding of any excess of the deposit over the value of the lands taken; the excess, however, if any, over and above the actual cost of the survey in the fieldand office work will be refunded as heretofore under the resolution of Congress of July 1, 1864. (U.S. Laws, vol. 11, p. 414.) No certificate of deposit can be received in payment by the Receiver for more than the cost of the land at Government price, and when the certificate is for more than that amount, the Receiver will indorse the amount for which it is received, and will charge the United States with that sum only, and vot with the sum named on the faco of the certificate. Where the amount of deposit is, however, dess than the cost of the land, the certificate will of course he received at its fnee value, and the remainder of cost of land paid for in cash, Assuming that the estimated cost of survey (hoth offico and field work) is $850, which amount the party deposits, and the actual cost is $800; the party will be entitled. under the act of July 1, 1864, tothe $50 thus deposited in excess of the actual cost of the field and offico work; hut he will not he eutitled to tho return of the $600 deposited in excess of the Government cost of one hundred aud sixty acres at $1.25 per acre (amounting to $200.) If, hofever, there are several applicants, the amounts deposited by each can be equitahly arranged among themselves, provided, of course, the aggregate deposits cover the ostimated expenses of the survey and incidontal clerk hire. The Surveyor General shall distinctly state to the applicant thnt the application for survey and depositing of the money will give no preference right to the land where adverse claims exist and that all contests relative to lands applied for, whenever they arise, must he investigated and passed upon hy a proper local land office before pre-emption entry can he allowed or the deposit credited to the depositing settler, as tho beucfits conferred by the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1871, hereinbefore cited, innre exclusively to preemptors under existing laws, In making his monthly and quarterly returus, the Receiver shall designate the lands in payment for which certificates of deposit wero used by settlers under the law, describing separately iu lis receipts the amounts of such pnyments and the halauces paid in cash, if any occur, crediting the United States in said returns with the acres and purchase moncy of the lands embraced by the class of entries allnded to, and debiting the sume with the amounts of the respective deposits applied in payment therefore, as shown by the certificates of deposit which aro to be sent np as vouchers with appropriate quarterly accounts. Very respectfully, Wiis Druwmonp, Commissioner. To the Surveyors General, Registers and Receivers. A Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury. To tho Hon. Grorcre 8, Bourweun, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir:—It is curreutly reported, nnd very generally believed, that Mi. Richardson, the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and Mr. Spinner, the Treasurer of the United States, are to spend the coming summer in Europe, there to assist in making arrangements for disposing of the new United States hends te foreign capitalists. If tbis be the case, is it not an acknowledgment, on your part, that there is in this country an inadequate supply of money? Certainly it is; for, if we hnve enongn here, why send ahread to beg it in exchange fer honds, and pay to foreigners interest for itsuse? Making this ncknowledgment, as you then clearly do, how can you logically and consistently aveid the conclusicn that the time has now arrived when the country should have more currency? How can it he mere readily or more cheaply ohtained thanby the governmeni itself furnishing it? Why not, then, promptly and energetically advocate the reversal of the policy of your predecessor, Mr. McCulloch, and urge the reissue of the greenbacks which he retired ? It will, perhaps, he said that this is not the road to specie paymeuts. Is your proposed policy such? Will you, with that policy, aid in the accomplishment of tbat result? Is an increase of our already enormous and alarming foreign iudehtedness going to carry us forward a single step in that direction? Will it not rather retard us? and is the government doing its duty—is it following a wise policy in entering into competition with tbe railroad companies and those others who constitute the great army of American horrowers in foreign lands, and in forging additional chains wherewith this and future generations shall he held in finnncial hondage to European money lenders ? The government and the railroad kings having made up their minds thnt they will have move nnd cheaper money than the couutry has now to offer, I would most respectfully ask you whether, in your opinion, that point has not been reached where THE PEOPLE who also suffer for the want of an ahundant and cheap supply of mouey, ard cannot go abroad for it, should demand of their rulers that they nlso shall have more, and that it be furnished at home, and hy the governmeut itself? Why not yourself demand of Congress this addition to our currency as 2 mcans of heading off the wild scramble for Kuropean loans now fairly innugurated, and threatening such disaster?” Can so cniled ‘‘inflation” portend so great evils as a mountain of foreign indehtedness. Most earnestly inviting your serious consideration of these interesting and important questions, I_ have tho houor to be, Yours respectfully, Henry Carry Barrp. Philadelphia, 406 Walnut street, May 23, 1871. New Enouanp Earraquares.—W. T. Brigham states that, since 1638, 227 earthquakes have heen recorded as happening in New England, and four previous ones are mentioned in Indian traditions. He thinks that prohahly there were once volcanoes in New England, and particularly in Connecticut. Prof. Dana dissents from this opinion. Maxrrsosaum is said to have heen found in Patagonia.