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will decrease tidal flow. To avoid the loss of the inflowing water, Captain Heuer proposes to make the east jetty low, or, if high, with a large opening at its shore end, while the west jetty is to be high with but a small opening in shore. If constructed in accordance with his views, doubtless the deeper layers of water coming down the pass by reason of their living force will move on between the jetties, but with some diminution of velocity, while the upper or surface layers will seek by the east and west openings in the jetties the shortest line to the Gulf level. It may well be a question whether the gain in the amount of the inflowing tide by leaving openings through the jetties near their shore ends will compensate the loss in scouring effect of the outflowing between the jetties due to diminution in volume and velocity of movement, which will be the more marked as the jetty lengths are increased. It is an objection to these openings, as well as to the submerged jetties, that they will permit material to be brought into the pass, and the more so as in this locality the winds blow obliquely upon the shore for the greater part of the year, stirring up the bottom not only during storms far seaward, but in the shoaler water by the smaller waves of translation due to moderate winds. This material will be deposited more or less irregularly in the pass, to be either stirred up by the outflowing tide or rolled along the bottom between the jetties, creating variations of depth and irregularity of channel until it reaches the sea.

In this connection should be noticed the great variation in the tides due to the winds-nearly 4 feet. It seems probable that from that cause much irregularity of depth in the channel of the pass and between the jetties (whether low or high) would be produced.

While we freely admit that the jetties would give a much deeper channel than at present, we do not think they will by any means secure an unchanging depth equal to that now maintained in the pass.

We prefer high jetties to the submerged, and would, even in using them, omit the shore openings. If, therefore, a deeper channel through the Sabine Pass be now demanded, the western jetty, as proposed by Captain Heuer, should be built first (but without shore openings) and its effect observed. It is not necessary to decide at present in reference to the eastern, although this Board would favor a high jetty without shore openings to a low one on that side of the channel as well as on the western.

In conclusion, we would add that we do not feel called upon to enter on a prolonged discussion of this subject, as it is treated so fully and satisfactorily by Captain Heuer in his report referred for our consideration.

Respectfully submitted.

Z. B. TOWER,

Colonel of Engineers, Bvt. Maj. Gen.
JOHN NEWTON,

Colonel of Engineers, Bvt. Maj. Gen.
HENRY L. ABBOT,

Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers, Bot. Brig. Gen.

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1st Session.

No. 148.

SALARIES, FEES, AND COMMISSIONS OF REGISTERS AND RECEIVERS.

MESSAGE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

TRANSMITTING

A communication from the Secretary of the Interior, submitting an estimate for additional appropriations for salaries, fees, and commissions of registers and receivers, and for contingent expenses of land offices.

MARCH 30, 1882.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, dated the 29th of March, and the accompanying letter of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, submitting an estimate for additions of $34,200 and of $20,000, respectively, to the appropriations for salaries, fees, and commissions of registers and receivers, and for contingent expenses, land offices, for the next fiscal year.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

March 30, 1882.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, March 29, 1882.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, submitting an estimate for additions of $34,200 and of $20,000, respectively, to the appropriations for salaries, fees, and commissions of registers and receivers, and for contingent expenses, land offices, for the next fiscal year, rendered necessary by the establishment of six new land districts.

The estimate meets with my approval, and I beg leave to recommend that it be transmitted to Congress for its consideration. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. J. KIRKWOOD,

The PRESIDENT.

Secretary.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

GENERAL LAND OFFICE, Washington, D. C., March 25, 1882.

SIR: I have the honor to call your attention to the estimate of $469,700 submitted by this office for salaries, fees, and commissions of registers and receivers for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883. Said estimate was based upon the salaries, fees, and commissions earned by the officers of 96 offices during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, with the addition of the office at Oberlin, Kans., which had then just been opened. The amount submitted will cover only the compensation of the registers and receivers of the offices now in operation.

There are now pending before Congress Senate bills Nos. 28, 222, and 1531 for the creation of four additional land districts in the States of Colorado, Florida, and Nebraska, two of which, Nos. 28 and 1531, I see by this morning's Record, passed the Senate yesterday. No. 222 has been referred to and received the approval of this office, and all three will, in all probability, become laws.

In addition to the above four offices, House Bill No. 4698 for the creation of two additional offices in Dakota has passed both Houses of Congress and is now awaiting the approval of the President.

Should the bills above mentioned become laws the amount submitted, $469,700, for salaries, fees, and commissions of registers and receivers during the incoming fiscal year will be inadequate to pay the compensation of the registers and receivers of the 103 offices. It is estimated that the average compensation of each of the new officers will amount to $2,850, aggregating $34,200. The new land districts are created out of districts where there are large and increasing sales of public lands, and the fees and commissions earned by registers and receivers largely in excess of the $2,500 authorized by sections 2237 and 2240 of the Revised Statutes. The compensation to the registers and receivers of the new would not affect that of the registers and receivers of the old offices. I have therefore to request that the amount heretofore submitted be increased in the sum of $34,200, making in all $503,900.

I also call your attention to the fact that, upon the opening of the new offices, furniture, safes, plat-books, &c., will be required, as well as the services of clerks. For the same reason, the estimate of $120,000, submitted "for contingent expenses of land offices" for the same fiscal year, will not meet the expenses of the 103 offices, and I have to request that it be increased to $140,000.

For the estimates referred to, see pages 187, 188, and 189 of the letter of the honorable Secretary of the Treasury, dated December 5, 1881, transmitting estimates of appropriations required for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, to the honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Very respectfully,

Hon. S. J. KIRKWOOD,

Secretary of the Interior.

N. C. MCFARLAND,

Commissioner.

Ο

1st Session.

No. 149.

TERM OF OFFICE OF INDIAN INSPECTORS AND INDIAN AGENTS.

MESSAGE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

TRANSMITTING

A communication from the Secretary of the Interior relative to the term of office of Indian inspectors and Indian agents.

MARCH 30, 1882.-Referred to the Committee on Indians Affairs and ordered to be printed.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing draft of a bill to amend section 2056 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to the term of office of Indian inspectors and Indian agents.

The subject is commended to the consideration of Congress.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

CHESTER A ARTHUR.

March 30, 1882.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, March 29, 1882.

SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith the draft of an amendment to section 2056, Revised Statutes United States, relating to the term of office of Indian inspectors and Indian agents.

That section now reads as follows:

"SEC. 2056. Each Indian agent shall hold his office for the term of four years."

The term of office of an Indian agent therefore expires absolutely, and he ceases to be an officer of the department, at the expiration of the term for which he was appointed.

It frequently happens that the term of an agent expires before his successor can be appointed and qualified. In the mean time there is no responsible officer at the agency, and the late agent, although in charge of the agency and of all the public property there, can do no official act

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