tates
Navy; Lieutenant-Colonel Q.A. Gillmore, Engineer Department, United
States Army; David Smith, Chief Engineer, United States Navy; W. Sooy
Smith, civil engineer; A.S. Holly, civil engineer; R.H. Thurston,
civil engineer, who will convene at the Watertown Arsenal, Mass.,
on April 15, 1875, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the purpose
of determining by actual tests the strength and value of all kinds of
iron, steel, and other metals which may be submitted to them or by them
procured, and to prepare tables which will exhibit the strength and
value of said materials for constructive and mechanical purposes, and
to provide for the building of a suitable machine for establishing such
tests, the machine to be set up and maintained at the Watertown Arsenal.

The funds appropriated for the purposes of these tests will be disbursed
under the Ordnance Department of the Army, and the board will receive
instructions from and make its report to the Chief of Ordnance.

Mr. R.H. Thurston, civil engineer, is designated as secretary of the
board, at an annual compensation of $1,200.

Actual traveling expenses, as provided by law, will be allowed the
members of the board.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, May 24, 1875_.

SIR:[96] The President directs me to say that the several Departments of
the Government will be closed on Saturday, the 29th instant, in order to
enable the employees to participate in the decoration of the graves of
the soldiers who fell during the rebellion.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

O.E. BABCOCK, _Secretary_.

[Footnote 96: Addressed to the heads of the Executive Departments, etc,]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, _Washington, D.C., July 3, 1875_.

_To Collectors of Customs_:

The importation of breech-loading rifles, and fixed ammunition suitable
therefor, into the Territory of Alaska, and the shipment of such rifles
or ammunition to any port or place in the Territory of Alaska, are
hereby forbidden, and collectors of customs are instructed to refuse
clearance of any vessel having on board any such arms or ammunition
destined for any port or place in said Territory.

If, however, any vessel intends to touch or trade at a port in Alaska
Territory or to pass within the waters thereof, but shall be ultimately
destined for some port or place not within the limits of said Territory,
and shall have on board any such firearms or ammunition, the master or
chief officer thereof