bacteriologists, one to be selected from the medical officers of the marine hospital service, one to be appointed from civil life, one to be detailed from the medical officers of the army and one from the medical officers of the navy.

SALE OF THE UNION PACIFIC.

The Union Pacific railway main line was sold under the decree of the United States court for the district of Nebraska the 1st and 2d of November of this year. The amount due the government consisted of the principal of the subsidy bonds, $27,236,512, and the accrued interest thereon, $31,211,711.75, making the total indebtedness $58,448,223.75. The bid at the sale covered the first mortgage lien and the entire mortgage claim of the government, principal and interest.

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The sale of the subsidized portion of the Kansas Pacific line, upon which the government holds a second mortgage lien, been postponed at the instance of the government to Dec. 16, 1897. The debt of this division of the Union Pacific railway to the government Nov. 1, 1897, was the principal of the subsidy bonds, $6,303,000, and the unpaid and accrued interest thereon, $6,626,690.33, making a total of $12.929,690.33. The sale of this road was originally advertised for Nov. 4, but for the purpose of securing the utmost public notice of the event it was postponed until Dec. 16, and a second advertisement of the sale was made.

By the decree of the court the upset price on the sale of the Kansas Pacific will yield to the government the sum of $2,500,000 over all prior liens, costs and charges. If no other or better bid is made this sum is all that the government will receive on its claim of nearly $13,000,000. The government has no information as to whether there will be other bidders or a better bid than the minimum amount herein stated.

The question presented, therefore, is whether the government shall, under the authority given it by the act of March 3, 1897, purchase or redeem the road in the event that a bid is not made by private parties covering the entire government claim.

To qualify the government to bid at the sales will require a deposit of $900,000, as follows: In the government cause, $500,000, and in each of the first mortgage causes, $200,000, and in the latter the deposit must be in cash. Payment at the sale is as follows: Upen the acceptance of the bid a sum which, with the amount already deposited, shall equal 15 per cent of the bid; the balance in installments of 25 per cent, thirty, forty and fifty days after the confirmation of the sale. The lien on the Kansas Pacific prior to that of the government on the 30th day of July. 1897, principal and interest, amounted to $7,281,048.11. The government, therefore, should' it become the highest bidder, will have to pay the amount of the first mortgage lien.

I believe that under the act of 1887 it has the authority to do this, and in the absence of any action by congress I shall direct the secretary of the treasury to make the necessary deposit as required by the court's decree to qualify as a bidder and to bid at the sale a sum which will at least equal the principal of the debt due the government; but I suggest, in order to remove all controversy, that an amendment of the law be immediately passed explicitly giving such powers and appropriating in general terms whatever sum is sufficient therefor.

In so important a matter as the govern. ment becoming the possible owner of railroad property, which it perforce must conduct and operate, I feel constrained to lay before congress these facts for its consideration and action before the consummation of the sale.

It is clear to my mind that the government should not permit the property to be sold at a price which will yield less than one-half of the principal of its debt and less than one-fifth of its entire debt, principal and interest. But whether the government, rather than accept less than its claim, should become a bidder and thereby the owner of the property, I submit to congress for action.

THE NEW LIBRARY.

The library building provided for by the act of congress approved April 15, 1886, has been completed and opened to the public. It should be a matter of congratulation that through the foresight and munificence of congress the nation possesses this noble treasure-house of knowledge.

It is earnestly to be hoped that, having done so much toward the cause of education, congress will continue to develop the library in every phase of research, to the end that it may be not only one of the most magnificent but among the richest and most useful libraries in the world.

EXTENSION OF CIVIL SERVICE.

The important branch of our government known as the civil service, the practical improvement of which has long been a subject of earnest discussion, has of late years received increased legislative and executive approval. During the last few months the service has been placed upon a still firmer basis of business methods and personal merit.

While the right of our veteran soldiers to reinstatement in deserving cases has been asserted, dismissals for merely political reasons have been carefully guarded against, the examinations for admittance to the service enlarged and at the same time rendered less technical and more practical, and a distinct advance has been made by giving a hearing before dismissal upon all cases where incompetency is charged or demand made for the removal of officials in any of the departments.

The order has been made to give to the accused his right to be heard, but without in any way impairing the power of removal, which should always be exercised in cases of inefficiency and incompetency, and which is one of the vital safeguards of the civil-service-reform system, preventing stagnation and deadwood, and keeping every employe keenly alive to the fact that the security of his tenure depends not on favor but on his own tested and carefully watched record of service.

Much, of course, still remains to be accomplished before the system can be made reasonably perfect for our needs. There are places now in the classified service which ought to be excepted, and others not classified may properly be included. I shall not hesitate to exempt cases which I think have been improperly included in the classified service, or include those which, in my judg ment, will best promote the public service. The system has the approval of the people and it will be my endeavor to uphold and extend it.

I am forced by the length of this message to omit many important references to affairs of the government with which congress will have to deal at the present session. They are fully discussed in the departmental reports, to all of which I invite your earnest attention.

The estimates of the expenses of the government by the several departments will, I am sure, have your careful scrutiny. While congress may not find it an easy task to

reduce the expenses of the government, it should not encourage their increase. These expenses will, in my judgment, admit of a decrease in many branches of the government without injury to the public service. It is a commanding duty to keep the appropriations within the receipts of the government and thus avoid a deficit. WILLIAM M'KINLEY. Executive Mansion, Dec. 6, 1897.

1832-Jackson had 687,502 to 530,189 for Clay and 33,108 for Floyd and Wirt combined. Jackson's majority, 124,205. Of the whole vote Jackson had 54.96 per cent, Clay 42.39 and the others combined 2.65.

1836 Van Buren had 761,549 to 736,656, the combined vote for Harrison, White, Webster and Mangum. Van Buren's majority, 24,893. Of the whole vote Van Buren had 50.83 per cent and the others combined 49.17.

1840-Harrison had 1,275,017 to 1,128,702 for Van Buren and 7,059 for Birney. Harrison's majority, 139,256. Of the whole vote Harrison had 52.89 per cent, Van Buren 46.82 and Birney .29.

1844-Polk had 1,337,243 to 1,299,068 for Clay and 62,300 for Birney. Polk over Clay, 38,175. Polk less than others combined, 24,125. Of the whole vote Polk had 49.55 per cent, Clay 48.14 and Birney 2.21. 1848-Taylor had 1,360,101 to 1,220,544 for Cass and 291,263 for Van Buren. Taylor over Cass, 139,577. Taylor less than others combined, 151,706. Of the whole vote Taylor had 47.36 per cent, Cass 42.50 and Van Buren 10.14.

1852 Pierce had 1,601,474 to 1,386,678 for Scott and 156,149 for Hale. Pierce over all, 58,747. Of the whole vote Pierce had 50.90 per cent, Scott 44.10 and Hale 4.97. 1856-Buchanan had 1,838,169 to 1,341,264 for Fremont and 874.534 for Fillmore. Buchanan over Fremont, 496,905. Buchanan less than combined vote of others, 377,629. Of the whole vote Buchanan had 45.34 per cent, Fremont 33.09 and Fillmore 21.57. 1860-Lincoln had 1,866,352 to 1,375,157 for Douglas, 845,763 for Breckinridge and 589,581 for Bell. Lincoln over Breckinridge, 491,195. Lincoln less than Douglas and Breckinridge combined, 354,568. Lincoln less than combined vote of all others, 944,149. Of the whole vote Lincoln had 39.91 per cent, Douglas 29.40, Breckinridge 18.08 and Bell 12.61. 1864-Lincoln had 2,216,067 to 1,808,725 for McClellan (eleven states not voting, viz.: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia). Lincoln's majority, 408,342. Of the whole vote Lincoln had 55.06 per cent and McClellan 44.94.

1868-Grant had 3,015,071 to 2,709,613 for Seyinour (three states not voting, viz.: Mississippi, Texas and Virginia). Grant's majority, 305,458. Of the whole vote Grant had 52.67 per cent and Seymour 47.33. 1872-Grant had 3,597,070 to 2,834,079 for Greeley, 29,408 for O'Conor and 5,608 for Black. Grant's majority, 729,975. Of the whole vote Grant had 55.63 per cent, Greeley 43.83, O'Conor .15, Black .09. 1876-Hayes had 4,033,950 to 4,284,885 for Tilden, 81,740 for Cooper, 9,522 for Smith and 2,636 scattering. Tilden's majority over Hayes, 250,935. Tilden's majority of the entire vote cast, 157,037. Hayes less than the combined vote of others, 344,833. Of the whole vote cast Hayes had 47.95 per cent, Tilden 50.94, Cooper .97, Smith 11, scattering .3.

1880-Garfield had 4,449,053 to 4,442,035 for Hancock, 307,306 for Weaver and 12,576 scattering. Garfield over Hancock, 7,018. Garfield less than the combined vote for others, 313,864. Of the popular vote Garfield had 48.26 per cent, Hancock 48.25, Weaver 3.33, scattering .13.

1884-Cleveland had 4,874,986 to 4,851,981 for Blaine, 150,369 for St. John, 173,370 for Butler. Cleveland had over Blaine 23,006. Cleveland had 48.48 per cent, Blaine 48.22, St. John 1.49, Butler 1.74. 1888-Harrison had 5,441,902 to 5,538,560 for Cleveland, 249,937 for Fisk, 147,521 for Streeter, 3,073 for Cowdney, 1,591 for Curtis and 9,845 scattering. Harrison had 96,658 less than Cleveland. Of the whole vote Harrison had 47.83 per cent, Cleveland 48.63, Fisk 2.21 and Streeter 1.30. 1892-Cleveland had 5,556,562 to 5,162,874 for Harrison, 264,066 for Bidwell, 1,085,424 for Weaver and 22,613 for Wing. Of the whole vote Cleveland had 45.73 per cent, Harrison 42.49, Bidwell 2.17 and Weaver 8.67. 1896-McKinley had 7,507,822; Bryan, 6,511,073; Levering, 130,683; Bentley, 13,950; Matchett, 33,545; Palmer, 133,800. Of the whole vote McKinley had 50.49 per cent and Bryan had 46.26.

Of the presidents, Adams, federationist; Polk, Buchanan and Cleveland, democrats; Taylor, whig; Lincoln, Hayes, Garfield and Harrison, republicans, did not, when elected, receive a majority of the popular vote. The highest percentage of popular vote received by any president was 55.97 for Jackson, democrat, in 1828, and the lowest 39.91 for Lincoln, republican, in 1860; Buchanan, democrat, next lowest, with 45.34. Hayes and Harrison, with the exception of John Quincy Adams, who was chosen by the house of representatives, were the only presidents ever elected who did not have a majority over their principal competitors, and Tilden and Cleveland the only defeated candidates who had a majority over the president-elect.

THE ELECTORAL VOTE IN 1896,

The largest piece of gold, free of quartz, in the world was taken from the Byer & Haltman gold mining claim. Hill End, New South Wales, Australia, on May 10, 1872, its weight being 610 pounds; height. 4 feet 9 inches; width, 3 feet 2 inches: average thickness, 4 inches, and was worth $148,800. It was found imbedded in a thick wall of blue slate, at a depth of 250 feet from the surface. The owners of the mine were living on charity when they found it.

The Welcome Stranger nugget was found on Mount Moliagel, Feb. 9. 1869; it weighed 190 pounds and was valued at $45,000. It was raffed for $46,000.

The Welcome nugget was found at Bakery Hill, June 9. 1859; it weighed 184 pounds 9 ounces 16 pennyweights and was worth $44,356. It was raffled for $50,000.

The Lady Hotham nugget was found in New South Wales, Canadian Gully, Sept. 8, 1854; it weighed 98 pounds 10 ounces 12 pennyweights and was sold for $23,557.

The Union Jack nugget was found Feb. 28. 1857; it weighed 23 pounds 5 ounces and was sold for $5.620.

No name nugget was found at Eureka, Dauttons Flat, Feb. 7, 1874, at a depth of thirty feet from the surface; it weighed 52 pounds 1 ounce and was sold for $12,500.

The Leg of Mutton nugget was found at Ballarat, Jan. 31, 1853, at a depth of 65 feet; it weighed 134 pounds 11 ounces and was sold at the bank for $32.380. This nugget was shaped like a leg of mutton, hence its name.

No name nugget was found at Bakery Hill, Ballarat, March 6, 1855, near the surface; it weighed 47 pounds 7 ounces and was sold for $11,420.

No name nugget was found in Canadian Gully, Ballarat, Jan. 22, 1853, near the surface: it weighed 84 ponnds 3 ounces 15 pennyweights and was sold for $20,235.

The Kohinoor nugget was found at Ballarat, July 27, 1860, at a depth of 160 feet; it weighed 69 pounds and was sold for $16,686.

The Sir Dominic Daly nugget was found Feb. 27, 1862; it weighed 26 pounds and was sold for $6,240.

No name nugget was found at Ballarat, Feb. 28, 1855; it weighed 30 pounds 11 ounces 2 pennyweights and was sold for $7.395.

No name nugget was found Aug. 1, 1879; it weighed 12 pounds and was worth $2.280.

No name nugget was found at Ballarat. Feb. 3, 1853; it weighed 30 pounds and was sold for $7,360.

No name nugget was found in Canadian Gully, Jan. 20, 1853; it weighed 93 pounds 1 ounce 11 pennyweights and was sold for $22,350.

No name nugget was found at Bakery Hill, March 6, 1855; it weighed 40 pounds and was worth $9.600.

The Nil Desperandum nugget was found Nov. 29, 1859; it weighed 45 pounds and was sold for $10,800.

The Oats & Delson nugget was found at Donolly gold field in 1880 at the roots of a tree; it weighed 189 pounds and was sold for $50,000.

In addition to the above are the Huron nugnet. worth $20,000, and the Empress nugget, worth $27,661. A great number of smaller nuggets too numerous to mention have been found.

Many large nuggets or lumps of gold have been found in California during the era of placer mining, but Australia must claim the largest. The California lumps are as follows: A piece of gold and quartz was found in Calaveras county, on Carson Hill, on the Mother lode; it was valued at $42,000.

The Downieville lump of quartz and gold, of Sierra county, as stated by Louis Blanding, gave a value of nearly $90.000, but it was not a nugget.

The mass of gold and quartz found in the Bonanza mine, Sonora, Tuolumne county, gave a value of over $40.000.

The Australian statistics are obtained from government authority.