Since this department has been made to depend upon the treasury for a portion of the means necessary to defray its expenditures, it appears to have been the practice in estimating for the deficiencies of a coming fiscal year, to ask only for an amount deemed sufficient to pay expenses until the meeting of the next session of Congress, and then to submit an estimate for such further sum as the service of the year may be found to require. Following this rule, the sum of $2,500,000 was asked for and appropriated for deficiencies in the year ending June 30, 1858, Statutes, 3d sess. 34th Congress, p. 183; and the estimate now presented is for the means which will be needed for the remainder of the year. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, AARON V. BROWN, Postmaster General. Hon, JAMES L. ORR, Speaker House of Representatives. 1st Session. No. 44. ESTIMATES-HARBORS ON DELAWARE RIVER. January 25, 1858.—Referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 18th instant, estimates for the appropriations for completing the harbors on the Delaware river. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 21, 1858. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the officer in charge of the Engineer Bureau in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 18th instant, calling for estimates, based upon such information as may be in the possession of, or can be obtained by, the department, of the amounts necessary to complete the improvement of the harbors at Reedy island, Chester, and Newcastle, Delaware river. Very respectfully your obedient servant, Hon. J. L. ORR, Speaker House of Representatives. JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary of War. ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., January 20, 1858. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the reference to this office of a resolution of the House of Representatives, dated 18th instant, in which the Secretary of War is requested to furnish estimates of the amounts necessary to complete the improvement of the harbors at Reedy island, Chester, and Newcastle, on the Delaware river. The latest estimates in the possession of the engineer department for the completion of the above mentioned harbors are dated Septem ber, 15, 1857, and were made by Brevet Major John Sanders, corps of engineers, who has those works of improvement in his charge. They are as follows: For completing the harbor to the east of Reedy island, Del aware river..... ...... For completing Newcastle harbor, Delaware river.. $75,000 50,000 30,000 The resolution of the House of Representatives is returned herewith. I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, H. G. WRIGHT, Hon. J. B. FLOYD, Secretary of War. Captain of Engineers, in charge. 1st Session, No. 45' EXPENSES OF THE INDIAN WARS IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON TERRITORIES. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 15th instant, a report of the commissioners to ascertain the expenses incurred in the Indian wars in Oregon and Washington Territories. JANUARY 25, 1858.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 23, 1858. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the report of the commissioners appointed under the 11th section of the act of the 18th August, 1856, to ascertain and report upon the expenses incurred in the late Indian wars in Oregon and Washington Territories, as requested in the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 15th instant. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. J. L. ORR, JOHN B. FLOYD, Speaker of the House of Representatives. DECEMBER 1, 1857. Report of commission on Indian war expenses in Oregon and Washing ton Territories. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSION ON INDIAN WAR EXPENSES IN Fort Vancouver, W. T., October 10, 1857. SIR: The commission appointed under authority given by the 11th section of the act of August 18, 1856, by order issued from the War |