a section of roadway six rods in width; K P M L, a piece or lot of land two acres in extent for depot purposes; K G D L, including above piece and roadway, contains three and one-half acres. The width of roadway to be granted south of depot grounds is a matter of but little importance to this post or government, provided it is contignons to the Ausable Branch of D. and H. C. R. (W. and P. R. R.), the soil being poor and sandy, but at the north extremity the soil is very good. A roadway but four rods in width was granted other roads. The piece BCLN, containing nearly two acres, would remain cut off by Hamilton street, and of no available good to the garrison, and only an expense to take care of it. I would recommend the sale of the piece so cut off. The broken line D E F G H shows present railroad fence inclosing, with the lake shore, the roadways of both Ausable Branch (W. and P. R. R.) and D. and H. C. C. R. (N. Y. and C.). If only two acres are granted in northeast corner, inclusive of roadway, the lot KG D L could be reduced by cutting off from the south end only or both front S D and depth G K. For depot purposes an extended front on the track is desired, and in the interest of the government that would be the most unsalable plot, and therefore best to release. The immediate interests of the post of Plattsburgh or government will not, in my opinion, be prejudiced by the release of lands as proposed in the bill. L. L. LIVINGSTON, Captain Third Artillery, Commanding. [4th indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, June 2, 1879. Respectfully referred to Maj. Richard Arnold, Fifth Artillery, acting assistant inspector-general (who commanded at Plattsburgh Barracks for a considerable period), for remark. To be returned. By command of Major-General Hancock. W. G. MITCHELL. Captain Fifth Infantry, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. [5th indorsement.] INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST, Respectfully returned to the assistant adjutant-general of the department. The portion of the reservation through which it is proposed to run the Dannemora Railroad is of no special value, being sandy and unproductive; and as no new lines are established, but only the extension of those already granted, I do not think the interests of the government, in a military point of view, would be prejudiced by granting the right of way asked for by the accompanying bill. The two (2) acres asked for depot purposes I regard of little or no value, and are so located that they can be released for private purposes without detriment to the prop erty. I fully agree with Captain Livingston as to the propriety of selling the two acres of ground left outside of the main track by the extension of Hamilton street, and for the reasons given by him. The extension of Hamilton street is necessary to afford communication with the depot grounds. RICHARD ARNOLD, Major Fifth Artillery, Acting Assistant Inspector-General. [6th indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, June 4, 1879. Respectfully returned to the Adjutant-General of the Army, No new lines through the reservation at Plattsburgh seem to be contemplated by this bill, only the extension or widening of those already granted; and under these circumstances I see no objections to the proposed bill becoming a law. WINFD. S. HANCOCK, 2d Session. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. No. 10. DECEMBER 4, 1879.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. WITHERS, from the Committee on Pensions, submitted the following REPORT: The Committee on Pensions having examined the petition, and papers accompanying, of Samuel M. Thatcher, asking for a pension on account of disease of the eye contracted in the service of the United States, find that the claim has been thrice rejected by the Pension Bureau on the ground that no disability exists. The unanimous reports of three separate boards of examining surgeons would seem to establish the fact as far as it is possible to do so. A slight shortsightedness (myopia) is the only defect ascertained by them to exist. Under these circumstances the committee ask to be discharged from the further consideratiou of the petition. C 2d Session. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. DECEMBER 4, 1879.—Ordered to be printed. No. 11. Mr. KIRKWOOD, from the Committee on Pensions, submitted the fol lowing REPORT: The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Zenas Herrick, asking for arrears of pension, have examined the same and report: The petitioner was drafted into the Army of the United States at New London, N. H., on or about October 2, 1814, and was honorably discharged at Portsmouth November 22, 1814. He applied for and received a bounty-land warrant for his services. He applied for a pension under the act of March 9, 1878, and was granted a pension at the rate of eight dollars per month. He now asks "to have his pension extended back to the time the injuries were received." There was not any evidence before the committee tending to show that he sustained any injury while in the service. Had he received any pensionable injury while in the service, he would have been entitled to a pension under the laws granting pensions to soldiers disabled in the service in the war of 1812. The pension he is now receiving was granted for service and not for disability. His entire term of service was fifty-one days, and if his pension were "extended back" to the date of his discharge, he would receive, beside his pay while in the service and the bounty-land warrant already received, nearly the sum of seven thousand dollars as arrears, in addition to his yearly pension for life of eight dollars per month. Your committee are of opinion that the compensation asked for the service rendered is excessive, and are also of opinion that if the allowance of arrears of pension shall be further extended such extension shall be by general law and not by special act. For these reasons your committee ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the petition. |