OUR NEW NORTHWEST. RUSSIAN AMERICA. BY OTTO BTROLINBKI. The discovery and early history of the Rus sian I'ossessions In America, until the late ao tion of Congress, attracted but little attention; lot with a prospect of its becoming a part of ur national domain, every fact connected with it becomes interesting. The object of this paper is not to describe the country as it at present exists, but to go back to the boginning und Bhow how it was discovered, and by whom. Our chief sources of information are found in "An Account of the Russian Discoveries be tween Asia aud America," by the Rev. Wil Eam Coxe; and "A History of Russian 1 .s ries " bytlerard Frederick Muller, written in German, but translated into French and Knclish- and both of these works as iuot l by Captain James Buriwy, of the British Navy, in his "Chronological History of Northeastern Vovnces of Discovery, and of the Karly Int ern Navigations of the Russians," published in London in 1S1D. We are indebted also to the "Voyage Round the World," by Otto von Kotzebne, of the Russian Navy. The desire to discover a northeast passage from Kurope to Asia was early expressed by the Russians; aud this desire was very na tural, first, on account of the benefit that would accrue to that empire from an easy pis sagft round their coasts from the liurope.ui to the Indiau ocean; and, secondly, on account of the greater facilities possessed by tlieiu, especially the inhabitants of Siberia, aud from their being iuured to the hardships of an arctic climate. As early as l.rr8 the Czars of Muscovy as sumed the title of Lords of Siberia, including all the northern portions of Asia. The con quests of the Russians over the nations of Siberia and Tartary opened the way for the advance of venturers and fur hunters, and in the early part of the eighteenth century these Russian adventurers began to push their way eastward across the . continent for the pur poses of trado. These traders were called IVomysrldt-.ni, aud their great object was to gather up the rich furs which everywhere abounded, aud the teeth of the sea-horse, which were in great demand. Forming them selves into independent companies, they gradually gained possession of the whole of .Eastern Siberia. It was not until the year 1U46" that the first voyage was undertaken from the Asiatic coast, by a company of i'romyschleni, under the direction of a inau named Isai Ignatiew. Without chart or compass they sailed from a port in the sea of Ochotsk, rounded the point of Kamtschatka, and pa?sed towards the north. They disembarked on a point of land, placed their merchandise on the strand, and retreated; the natives then approached and took what they pleased, leaving in return sea-horse teeth, both whole and in carved pieces. The success of this voyage induced others, and in June, 1047, four vessels de parted from the same port, on board of one of which we find the Cossack, Semoen Deschnew, who afterwards became famous a3 a voyager; but the ice proving too great an ob stacle, the enterprise was abandoned. The next year Deschnew ventured to make . another attempt in behalf of the crown, and in 1U48 a fleet of seven vessels sailed from the same port. Four of these vessels returned, but the other three continued on their course. The course of these vessels was along the coasts of Kamtschatka; but on account of their small size, when the wind was strong, driving the ice in towards the shore, they were com pelled to take refuge in the entrances to rivers and creeks, and could only proceed when the south wind drove the ice to sea again. Desch new has left a journal of this voyage, which is preserved among the archives of the Russian Government at St. Peters burg, which was examined and a part published by Muller in his "Discoveries." It is not necessary to enter into the particulars of this voyage, as their only discoveries were upon the Asiatic shore. During the succeeding five or six years, . Deschnew and another Russian named Du chail Staduchim made various voyages, but with little success worth recording. From this time until 1G97 little was accomplished in the way of discovery, but in that year Wolo dimer Atlassow, a Cossack officer, headed an expedition under the direction of the Siberian government, for the purpose of conquering Kamtschatka for the Russian crown. This expedition was made overland. Near the coast they found villages of Russians, having formerly been in Kamtschatka. It was a kind of traditional report among the natives that Strangers had arrived among them who had . married women of the country and settled there. These were.no doubt, traces of the expeditions Bent out early in the century. Up to this time the Russian Government in Europe had taken but little interest in the affairs of this remote region; but after the beginning of the eighteenth century, Peter the Great Bent directions to the Governor of lakutBk, the capital of Siberia, to prosecute the discovery of new lands in the Arctic Sea, but little seems to have resulted from this order. Passing by the numerous independent voyages undertaken during the next twenty years, which are devoid of special interest, we etrike upon the name of one whose discoveries were highly important Captain Vitus Bering, m Dane by birth, but in the service of the Russian Czar. Towards the close of the . reign of Peter the Great, the question which Lad eagerly engaged the attention of navigators, whether the continents of Asia and America were united or separated by water, again arose. In order to ascer tain thiB point, Peter, who entered warmly into the question, drew up with his own hands a set of instructions, which he delivered to Captain Bering, who assumed the cominaud of the projected expedition. But the first . attempt was unsuccessful, one of the vessels employed being disabled by the ice, and the ' other was never heard of after her departure. It was only a few days after the departure of Captain Jiering that the tzar died. The m Btructions which he drew up for this expedi .. tion were included under these three heads: 1. To construct at Kamtschatka, or other commodious places, one or two vessels. 2. With them to examine the coasts to the north and towards the northeast, to see whether they were not contiguous to America 3. To see whether there was any harbor belonging to Luropeans in those parts, and to keep an exact journal of all that should be discovered. In 172S, Captain Bering started ou another Toyage, with tw o vessels built ou the Biy of Okutzk; one was called the Fortunata, the other the Gabriel. They sailed on the 14th of July, and in September arrived in the river of Kamtschatka. From the fact that the coast of Asia, in the most northern part of this dis covery, trended towards the west, Captain Jiering came to the conclusion that the conti nents of Asia and America were certainly separated by water. Neither in going nor returning did he catch even a glimpse of the American Bhore. VVhile this expedition was in the Northern TJJE DAILY EVENING TELEGRAPH PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, Peas, another was started by the Russian Government, under the command of Colonel Schestakow. A part of the plan was the same with that of Captain Bering, namely, to discover the American coast. On his arrival at Ochotsk, he found the vessels Fortunata and Gabriel, lately returned from the expedi tion under Captain Bering. Placing his men on board these vessels, he set Bail; but shortly after leaving Ochotsk the Fortunata was driven on shore a hopeless wreck. Schesta kow, who escaped with one hundred and fifty men, proceeded towards tho North by land, but, in a skirmish with the natives, he was killed by an arrow, and his men routed. Three days previous to this event, Schestakow had despatched a messenger to one of the Russian settlements in the South, to a Cossack officer named Krupis chew, directing him to equip a vessel, and sail northward along the coast of Kamts chatka. Schestakow associated with him iu this enterprise a Russian named Gwosdew, and, having repaired the wreck of tho Fortu nata, set sail. To these two men is due the honor of first discovering the northwest coast of America. When in latitude 05 deg. b'7 min. north, they came upon an unknown shore opposite to Asia, which they found inhabited, but could hold no intercourse with the natives for lack of an interpreter. This, therefore, was the first sight of the continent iu the northwest by Europeans. The discovery, when it became known at St. Petersburg, caused a great sensation. Bering aud other officers engaged in the discovery were promoted, and various plans were formed for new expeditious. The Academy of Sciences was consulted, and men eminent for science were-appointed to proceed to the New World. The persons thus chosen were denominated La tsoc'u'U Jcs Sucuhs. Miil ler, to whom we are indebted for much of the infill nation in this paper, was one of the corps, and the province undertaken by him was to write a civil history of Siberia, to describe the manners and customs of the inhabitants, to search for and examine records, to describe the antiquities, and also to write a history of the expeditions undertaken. The members of this expedition were long delayed alter their arrival at Ochotsk; but at last, in September, 1740, set out in two vessels called respectively the St. Peter aud the St. Paul, under the com mand of Captain Bering; but owing to tho heavy ice, thpy were obliged to winter in Awatcka Bay, on the coast of Katuts schatka, and it was not till June, 1741, that they really directed their course towards the American continent. On the 4th of the month they were in latitude 4ii deg. N.; but not find ing the expected land, Bering directed the course northeast to latitude 50 deg. N., and then east. On the 20th the ships parted com pany. Captain Bering, iu the St. Paul, cruised near the spot for several days, hoping to fall in with his consort, but at length de termined to advance alone. On the 15th of July they caught an indistinct glimpse of the land; on the 18th the low coast line of the American continent showed itself before them in latitude GO deg. N. Far inland they saw the Fnow-cappad summit of a lofty mountain, to which they gave tho name of Mount St. Elias, and a projecting point of the coast they named Cape St. Elias; another cape to the westward they called St. llermogeues; the bay lying between these two points has since been called Trince William Sound. One armed boat was sent to examine the bay, and another to seek fresh water. Among the islands that studded the bay they found a secure anchorage in very deep water. Upon the shore were discovered a number of cabins built of smooth boards; and in one which they entered they found pieces of cordage, a whetstone, upon which copper instruments had been sharpened, an arrow, Bome articles of household furniture, a hollow ball of baked clay, in which a stone rattled, and which was probably a toy for children; aud, in the cellar, some dried salmon; but the inhabitants had all taken flight upon their approach. Captain Bering did not think it advisable to enter the bay with his vessel, but, having procured a fresh supply of water, he proceeded up the coast, and towards the end of August found himself among a cluster of islands now known by the name of the Aleu tian group. At one of these islands they were approached by some boats filled with natives, but they would not trust themselves on board. During the next two months the St. Paul cruised among these islands, the crew suffering the most intense anguish from scurvy and exposure, until at last, tnrougn tne ex haustion of the crew, the vessel was stranded. And to complete their misery, Captain Bering, who had been for Borne time sick, having been carried ashore, after a few days expired. During the winter thirty out of the crew of seventy died on the same island. The re mainder, from the materials of the St. Paul, constructed a frail vessel, and on the 27th of August, after a tedious voyage, anchored in Awatchka Bay. We will not dwell longer on these early dis coveries of the Russians, but step across thirty-six years, and glance at a voyage of the celebrated Captain Cook in these waters. In July, 1776, he left England, having two ships under his command, the Resolution, com manded by himself, and the Discovery, com manded by Captaiu Charles Clerke. In December of this year they sailed from Society Islands on their voyage, and on the 18th of January, 177, discovered that since celebrated group of islands, to which were given the name of the Sandwich Islands; and on the 7th of March, in latitude 44 deg. 30 mm. north, they sighted the American continent, but soon lost sight of it again. After being driven out to sea by adverse winds, they again made land in latitude 49 deg. 28 min. north, aud on the 22d entered a sound of deep, plaaid water, where they were soon surrounded by the boats of the natives. This sound was called by the inhabitants Nootka Sound. The natives were of short stature, armed with pikes pointed with bone aud iron, and bows and arrows. Their language was harsh and difficult of utterance. The shore appeared to be studded with their villages. The men were eager to exchange their furs for the beads and trinkets ollered them. On the 25th of May, they left the sound and proceeded towards "the north, to discover, if possible, tho northwest passage. On tho 4th of June they came in sight of Mount St. Elias, winch they mistook lor an lslaud, no other land being in view. This mountain is the con tinuation of the Sierra Nevada range of Cali- lornla, and rises to the height of more than 17,000 foet above the sea. Upon the 25th, they found themselves surrounded by rocky islands, which proved to be the Aleutian Islands. From this time until September they were coasting the shores of America, going as jar north as luhtude 70 deg. 30 min. Soon after this voyage of Captain Cook, the Empress Catharine II of Russia planned an ttxpeuiuun lor making northern discoveries, wmcu was piac. u under the command of t-'ap tain Joseph BUliiurs. f'nntain Uillinffs re ceived his instructions in th mtnmn of 17S5. and in October sit out. 'having erir,Hn his own officers, aud been supplied with nil necessary instruments, and with charts aud journals of li r : . ... - - t au lormer nay pavers nom, the year Vlii Among the instructions which he received, showing the liberality and sense of justice of. the empress, were tho following: "Such coasts and islands as you shall discover, and . which cannot bo disputed by and are not sub- Ject to any European power, you are, with the consent of the inhabitants (if any), to take possession of in the name of her imperial majesty." And still again: "When you bring under Russian subjection newly dis covered and independent nations or people, you are to observe the following directions: As such people have most probably never been insulted by any Europeans, your first care must be to give them a good opinion of the Russians." This voyage of Billings ac complished little; but in 1790 we find him at the Aleutian Islands, protesting, in the name of his -Government against the iniustice and cruelty practised against the natives by the l romysclilenies who had su I nitrated them. The natives were held in the most abject slavery, and treated with the greatest bar barity by these traders, so that it was calculated that, in the short space of fifteen years, in consequence of compulsory labor, exhausting efforts in hunting, the violation ot all rights, insurrections, and the per petual anguish attending such evils, more than two-thirds of the inhabitants had perished. Captain Billings, in his protest, says: "There is no name so dreadful to the natives as the leader of a gang of hunters. Immediately on their arrival they send the natives out on the chase, and then take by force the youngest and most handsome of the women for their companions." The journal of another officer says: "When two dillerent parties of hunters meet, they sometimes fight for the possession of the natives, and sometimes jom in one coin- jany. the barbarity of those Bubduers to the crown of Russia is not to be described." Cap tain liurney writes: "Russian fur-hunters, trained in ferocious habits of robbing and de stroying at their pleasure and with impunity. having the ready pretense, if pretense is ever thought necessary, of collecting tribute for their sovereign; men careless of justice or the welfare of others, yet esteeming themselves pious, and making lowly reverence at every turn to images or to crosses; these are the men who share the gains made by such barbarous usurpation, while the Government of Russia, by permitting a continuance of this progress of depopulation, not blindly, but with the evi dence of its iniquity in their possession, are losers. What might palliate or be a reasonable motive lor conquering the Americans is wholly wanting, the posses sion of one acre of American territory being no way necessary to the security of the luissian empire. Ihe plain and efficient remedy for the evil in its present state is for the Russian Government to restore the re maining Aleutian Islanders and the conquered Americans to their independence, and to admit the subjects of Russia to have intercourse with them in future only ou a footing of equality and friendship." In 1797 this evil had become so great, and the overbearing of these free-traders so noto rious, that the Emperor Paul of Russia inter fered, and ordered the formation of a trading company to be called the "Russian-American Company," which Was to supersede all the in dependent companies who had so long preyed upon the inhabitants. To this company was given the exclusive privilege ot carrying on trade and forming settlements. Two directors appointed to administer its atlairs were to re side at St. Petersburg, and be responsible to the Government and under its control. Through the energy of this company trade soon began to increase, until at last the sea otter, the great object of their trade, bad almost disappeared. The Com pany, therefore, were compelled to extend their settlements further south, and in 1804 they established a colony upon the Island of Sitka. This island (or rather these throe islands) is separated from the main-land by a narrow channel. The coast is intersected by many deep creeks, and the neighboring waters thickly shielded with little rocky islands, which are a protection against the storms, and present a strong wall of defense against the waves. The natives of Sitka were called by the Russians Kalushes. A bold, enterprising man named Baronof was appointed superintendent of the Com pany's establishment. He immediately set to work to build dwelling-houses, make m trenchments, and propitiate the inhabitants. Having accomplished this, he left the colony, having confided the government to a few Russians and Aleutians. For a time things went on swimmingly; but suddenly, the garri son, believing itself to be in perfect safety, was attacked and murdered, with the excep tion of a few Aleutians, who were out in their boats. Baronof, hearing of the disaster, re turned with three vessels, accompanied by the Russian man-of-war Neva, which happened to be in those waters, and the revolters, after a sharp conflict, were subdued. Baronof imme diately commenced rebuilding and repairs, and gave as a name to the town New Arch angel, whih became the capital of the Russian Possessions in America. The climate of Sitka is not severe as might be expected from its latitude. In the middle of winter the cold is not excessive, and never lasts long. Agriculture, however, is not successful here. There is not, perhaps, in the world a spot where so much rain falls; a dry day is rare; and this itself would account for the failure of grain. The nature of the ground is, however, equally inimical to it. There are no plains of any extent, the small valleys being everywhere surrounded by high, steep rocks of granite, and consequently over shadowed the greater part of the day. Some vegetables, such as cabbages, turnips, and potatoes, grow very well; the latter are raised even by the Kalushes, who have learned from the Russians the manner of cultivating them, and consider them a great delicacy. Upon the main-land the climate under the same latitude i3 said to be incomparably better than on the island of Sitka, although the cold is rather more severe. Great plains are there to be found where wheat can be profitably cultivated. The forests of Sitka, consisting principally of fir and beech, are lofty and thick. Some of the trees nre a hundred aud sixty feet high, and from six to seven feet in diameter. From these noble trunks the Kalushes form their large canoes, which sometimes carry from twenty to thirty men. Wild and unfruitful as the country appears, the soil is rich, bo that its indigenous plants, of which there is no great variety, attain a very largo growth. The sea near the coast, and the bays, abound in fish and in mammalia; of herring, salmon, and cod there is a super fluity. Captain Kotzebne, from whose journal the above is extracted, approach ing New Archangel on the 23d of February, writes :" The nearer we approached the land, the milder the weather became; and we were astonished, in so northern a country, to see the mountains at this season of the year entirely free from snow to a considerable height. Throughout the winter, which, how ever, has been peculiarly mild, the snow in many of the valleys had never lain above i a few hours together. Here under 57 degrees north latitude the climate is much milder than in European countries similarly situated." Northern Monthly and New Jersey Magazine FINANCIAL. JEV GTATE LOAN. THE NEW SIX PER CENT STATE LOAN, Freo from all Stato, County, and Municipal Taxation, Will be f nrc Juried In sums to suit, on applica tion to either of the undersigned:- JAI C OOKE A CO DBEXEL A CO 72mp E. W. CXAKK A CO. BANKING H'OUSE OHE' JayCoke&(p. U2 and So. THIRD ST. PHILAP A. Dealora in all Government Securities, OLD B-20 WANTED IN EXCHANGE FOR NEW. A LIBERAL DIFFERENCE ALLOWED, Compound Interest Notes Wanted. lMFHrST ALLOWED ON DEPOSITS. Collections made. Stocks bought and sold on Commission. Bpeclal business accommodations reserved for ladles. f6 24 8m T 11 E UNDERSIGNED II AVE PUKCHA8ED THE NEW SIX PER CENT. REGISTERED LOAN F TUB LEHIGH COAL AND NAVIGA TION COMPANY, DUE IN 1897. INTEBEMT PAY A BUB l)tABTKLT, FBEE OF UNITED STATES AND STATE TAXES AND OFFER IT FOB SALE AT THE LOW PBICE OF NINETY-TWO, AND ACCRUED 1NTEBEST FKU3I AUGUST 1, Tbla LOAM Is secured by a first mortgage on the Oompany's Railroad, constructed and to be con structed, extending from the southern boundary of the borough of Hanch Chunk to the Delaware lvet at Easton, Including their bridge across the said river now la process of construction, together with all the Company's rlgnta, llbertless, and franchise appertain I ng u the said Railroad and Bridge. Copies of the mortgage may be had on application at the office of the Company, or to either of the under sWued. DBEXEL A CO. E. W. CLABK A CO, JAT COOKE A CO, g mf W. II. KEWBOLD.KOW A AEBTSEN S" ATIONAL RANK OF THE REPUBLIC, 809 and 811 CHESNUT STEEET, PHILADELPHIA. CAPITAL. . ....tl,000,00 DIRECTORS, Kathun Utiles, lieu). Kowlund, Jr., btiinuel A. Aslsphuiii, JiUardii. Ome, William TTrolon Otigood Wemh, Frederick A, Hoyt, W U, Khawa. WM, H. RHAWN. President, JmU C'uue,T of the Central National Bank JOS, P. MUMFORD Cashier, ft 1J1 Zate of Uu Philadelphia National Sank PARTIES HOLDING GOVERNMENT SECURITIES Tor Investment may now realize a hundjorue proiit by converting theia luto THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS Which carry the name interest, viz., BIX PER CENT. IN GOLD. The ClUereuce lu your fuvor to-day, Auuust 14, Is as follows: -1 -1 o-zm ui juiy we pay iiwrm uu For hKln wo pity ('21016 ou each thousand. For Iimiis we pay 4118 HI on each thouand. For 7-a s. lid series, we pay i iso 01 ou eucb ttiousann. For 7 Ww, 1x1 series, we pny ( I74'l ou each thousand, Kubjvcl to litlt variations Iroui day to day. W. PAINTER to CO. I SPECIAL AGEKTS OP THE COMPANY, 8 lull No. S a THIRD Btreet. luillUllltll. ForS-20s of 1R12 we pay 230-18 on cftch thousand. 'or B-2 o Iwtf we pay ! HI on esuU thousand. AUGUST 26, 1CT. FINANCIAL. ftj O T I C E TO T11K IlOLUrJRS FTDI LOANS CF THE COMMONWEALTH OP PENNSYLVANIA, Duo JSitcv July 1SSOO. Holders of the following LOANS OF T1IIC COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA are requested to present them for pnyiuent (Principal and Interest) at Ttia Farmers' and Ucchanica' Hatlal Bank of Philadelphia. Lean of March 1, 1833, due April 10, lfc61. " April 6, 183-1, due July 1,182. " April 13, 180.-5, due July 1, 1805. " February 9, 1839, due July 1, 1CC1. " Marcu 16, 1839, due July L, 1864, , " June 27, 1839, due June 27, 1864. " January 23. 1810, due January 1, 1805. All of the above LOANS will cease to draw Interest after September 30,1867. JOHN W. (iEAKT, GOVERNOR, JOHN F. II ART KAN FT, AUDITOR-GENERAL. WILLIAM II. UEnnLC, STATE TREASURER. 816fmwts30 THIRST-CLASS INVESTMENT BONDS POIl SALE. ST. LOUIS CITY WATEK SIXES. Principal and Interest Payable In New York In Gold Coin. These are twenty-year Bonds, having the revenues from the WATER TAX SPECIALLY PLEDGED for the payment of the Interest and redemption of the principal, and also the general revenues ot the city They are offered with confidence as a first-class se curity, and at such a price as will net the purchaser about S per cent, at present price of gold, ALSO, St. Louie City Six Per Cent. Currency Ilonde, Issued for luunlclpal purposes, to be had at a low price. The present financial condition of the city, and other Information, can be had on application to CHARLES B. KEEN, No. 82a WALNUT Street, Or TOWNSEND WHELEN & CO., 6 28 fmw3t No. 300 WALNUT Btreef. NOMH MISSOURI RAILROAD FIBST MORTGAGE SEVEN PER CENT. BONDS. Having purchased 0600,000 ot the FIRST MORT GAGE COUPON BONDS OF THE NORTH MIS SOURI RAILROAD COMPANY, BEAMING SEVEN PER CENT INTEREST, having 80 years to run, we are now prepared to sell the same at the low late of And the accrued lutereetf rom this date, thus paying the Investor over 8 per cent. Interest, which is paya ble temi-annually, This Loan Is secured by a First Mortgage apon the Company's Railroad, 171 miles already constructed and In running rder, and bi miles additional to be completed by thehrst of October next, extending from the oily ol bt, Louis luto Nortnern and Central Mis eouri. uil particulars will be given on application to either ol the onderslgi.ed. E.W. CLABK A CO. JAT tOOKK A CO, DBEXEL A CO. P. 8. Parties holding other securities, and wishing to ciiange them Jor this Loan, eau do so at the market luted. 8 is ini 7 3-10s, ALL SERIES, CONVERTED INTO F1VE-TWE IN TI ES. DELIVERED IMMEDIATELY. DE HA YEN & BROTHER 10 2rp KO. 40 W. THIRD WTBKET. S. SECURITIES A SPECIALTY. SMITH, RANDOLPH Si CO., BANKERS AND BUOKEBS, KO.iea TUIBIt THO, S MAHSAtr HTH rHIUkJDKXJ'HI. I W TOBX Orders for Stods and Gold executed in rhila- ddvliia and Ntw York, 1 1 t FINANCIAL TE "OFFER FOR SALE IXION PASSEXGER RAILWAY BONDS, AT NIHETY-ONE And Accrued Intcicst frora Jnlj 1. These BONDS are . FIUST-CLASS INVEST. WENT, being secured by a EIItST MOUTUAUK on the ltosd and F.ancbitios ol the Company, and bear Interest at the rate of SIX PEll CENT. Free from nil Taxes, City, State aad United States For lurlberlnformatlou cal at C T. YERKES, JR., & CO., 88 Jm No. 80 S. THIRD Street. PKOPOSALS. Ii.l KOVEMKNT OK THE DKS MOINES KAlMLia OK Tilt; MlSsls-ill'I'I KlVEK. TJ. b. K.NtilNEfclt'H OFF1CB, 1 DAVKNi'OKT, Iowa, July HI, Jbii7.j Healed propoKuls, in duplicate, will lm re ceived nt UiIn otllco until li M., WEDNESDAY. Kept ruber 4, 18li7, for excavating the prlaiu and coiifitiuctinc the enibnnkmeut wall of the '""--Mil lor Hie improvement of the navigation ol I be MlsHiHBippi river at the Dm Aioluea ltnpldx. The Cnnnl Is to be nbont VA (seven and one half) milt'B Iodk, extending from NaNbville to Keokuk, lown. The widl U at the water surface itishle the ennui to be 'Mi (three hundred) feet in embank meet, and 2o0 (two hundred and fifty) icet iu excavation, and in low water to be 5 (tlve) feet deep. All tho material excavated lrom the prism of the canitl to be used in bulld Irig the embankment. The lmter throughout the greater part of the distance will be about RdO (three hundred) leet from the Iowa ahore. here rock excavation occurn, the bottom of the canal will bnve a Mope of li (one and one bulf) Inches to tho mile. The embankmeut is to be built of earth clay and rock; to be 11) (ten) feet wide ou top, including the rip-rap cover tug: to be 2 (two) leel above high-water mark will slopes of 114 (one and one-half) base to i (one) vertical. The average thlcknens of the rip-rap protection to be l!$ (two and one-half) feet ou the river side, 2 (two) feet on the canal Bide, und I (oue) foot on top. All proportions mubt state the prlceat which each and every kind of work specified In the piopoi-al is to be done, and no bid will be con sidered that is not definite iu this respect. The Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids. A printed copy of this advertisement must bo attached to each proposal. Each bid must contain a written or printed giinran tee signed by two responsible persona. Blanks for proposals of the form required, with form of guarantee, will be furnished at this ollice on application. The price or prices in the contract will be con sidered as including the expense of furnishing all the materials and performing all the work, according to the plans and specifications exhi bited at the letting. The entire cost of the canal Is estimated at f'J,068,315 (two million Nlxty-elubt thousand three hundred and forty-five). The amount ap propriated by Congress Is JTUO.OOO (seven hun dred thousand dollars) the contract cau only be maue to cover this amount. Fifteen (16) per cent, of the amount of any work done or materials furnished, at the con tract price thereof, will be reserved until the whole work which is the subject of contract shall be entirely completed. Persons desiring limber Information can obtain the saure by calling at this office, where maps, plans, specifications, and form of con tract can be consulted. Proposals must be addressed to the under signed, and should be endorsed "Proposals for work on the Improvement of the Des Molnea Bapids." J. H WILSON, Llent.-CoI. 35th Infantry, 7 30 4w Bvf Major-Oeneral U, H. Army. PROPOSALS FOR A NEW JAIL. Department of the Interior, 1 Washington, D. C, July 31, 18G7.J" Sealed proposals will be received at this De partment until 12 o'clock M.. on TUESDAY, the 17th of Kept ember, 1KU7, for the erection of the Jail in and for tho District or Columbia, autho rized and provided for by the act of Congress, approved July 25, 1806. and the Joint resolution, approved March 2, 1807. The designs, detail, drawings, and specifica tions can be seen at the architect's otlice, la the eastern grounds ol the Capitol, Washington city, every day, except Sundays, between the hours of 9 A. M. and 8 P. M. Separate bids will be received for the ma sonry work, brick work, Iron work, and car pentry work. The contractor whose bid may be accepted will be required to enter into a sufficient bond, to be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, for the faithful completion of his contract. Payments will be made as the work progresses, on estimates certified to by the architect; but twenty pet centum of the estimates will be retained until the contract is completed. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, but the Department re serves the right to reject any or all ot the bids should it be deemed for the Interest of the Government to do so. The bids will be opened at noon on the 18th day of September next, in presence of such of the bidders as may choose to attend. Proposals should be endorsed on the envelope 'Proposals for New Jail." and be directed to the Secretary of the Interior, Washington, O. H. BROWNING,' 9 17 Secretary of the Interior WANTS. ANTED, AGENTS IN EVERT CITT AND TOWN IN ' T Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey PCR TBK BROOKLYN LIFE INSUBAKCECOMPANU OF NEW YORK Aliio, a few goort SOLICITOE8 for Philadelphia. Call or address E. B. COLTON, GU.NKRAL AGENT, 1Q. 87 'llr.HNITT NTBEGT, JOOK AGENTS IN LUCK AT LAST. The rrlHls Is pampd. The honr has come to lift tin veh ol sei reg, hleh has hitherto euveloued iheimier "HISTORY OF THE SECRET SERVICE." For thrilling Interest this book traimcends all the reins , ice ol a iliouhUiHvea, , d conclusively uravet that "truth is mruuer thuu action " AKeiiis re cleanup from iiiu to .)0 per month, it hu h we can M ove to any uonl.tiilg apulicaut, A I. AItltrTT A ro -L-1! PHILAIU'JLPUIA. "IXAM'LL-KOU TUB U. b. MARINE ,Zh.u!t '' l'e-bodlea M KN. rteernltfl must be 5 f,"i?.. . r ,,...l1'UK' U"'a'ned men. Tuey will be h ior wl?.V''? liVver"u,,,"t Navy-yanls ana iu h!X!i ap,"y 1o'""'u r 'urih.ii into J AM KB IWM, llah ,, Captain and Keeruiting otn. er, jjjrnw tf iso, an a fKOKTHnmt Ji.r T1IK BKST-THK HOLY 1SIHMC-H ARD In 8 hultloiiM Family, Pulpit and F..oWl Binle ii tcunt!hjl (styles f Turkey fcloroeoo and antltiue lilntliiiKS. A nttw edition, arranged tot photographiO put r alia of fkuilllwi. W M. W. TTAKnlNO. iul,l!-hnr, I Wo. Ufl CiiKfoN H' bum- too JfVurUl