NAVY, UNITED STATES. 



NEBRASKA. 



561 



der the command of Commander E. P. Lull, 

 has been examining the route ma Lake Nica- 

 ragua. Several lines have been run from Lake 

 Nicaragua to Brito, on the Pacific coast, one 

 of which is regarded as particularly favorable ; 

 also, a line to the Bay of Salinas. 



Commander Selfridge, who has conducted 

 the previous surveys of the Isthmus of Darien, 

 was engaged at the close of the year in com- 

 pleting the final exploration of that isthmus 

 between Panama and South America. The 

 route by the way of the Atrato and Nipipi 

 Rivers (the former of which is navigable at all 

 seasons for vessels drawing twenty-five feet 

 of water) was found to possess fewer difficul- 

 ties than any route previously examined. This 

 route requires a canal of about 32 miles in 

 length, the estimated cost ot which amounts 

 to $75,000,000 ; but it is hoped that further 

 surveys will shorten the distance four or five 

 miles and reduce the cost to $60,000,000. Re- 

 cent information at the close of the year fa- 

 vored the examination of the valley of the 

 river Bojaya, lying about ten miles south of, 

 and, in general, parallel to, that of the river 

 Nipipi. When this is completed, the entire 

 isthmus' lying south and east of the line of 

 the Panama Railroad will have been sufficiently 

 examined to establish the relative difficulties 

 of constructing a ship-canal, as well as the 

 lines lying farther south, between the river 

 Atrato and the Pacific Ocean. 



The following table, prepared by Lieutenant 

 Collins for the forthcoming report of Command- 

 er Selfridge, shows the probable gain in time 

 and distance to be effected for sailing-vessels 

 to and from the port of New York by a ship- 

 canal across the Isthmus of Darien over the 

 route proposed by Commander Selfridge, 

 United States Navy : 



The distance by present route is in nautical 

 miles, measured on the routes now generally 



VOL. XII. 36 A 



pursued. The days are actual averages ob- 

 tained from trustworthy sources. 



NEBRASKA. The Legislature met in ad- 

 journed session on the 9th of January. The 

 charges pending against John Gillespie, the 

 State Auditor, who had been impeached in 

 the preceding May, were withdrawn by the 

 House. The only important measure that 

 passed both Houses was a bill reassembling 

 the Constitutional Convention of the previous 

 year. This bill, -which was regarded as setting 

 at defiance the will of the people, who had al- 

 ready rejected the work of that convention, 

 was vetoed by Governor James. 



A difference having arisen between the two 

 Houses on a bill relating to the saline lands of 

 the State, the Senate, on the 20th, adjourned 

 to December, and the majority left for their 

 homes. But a portion of the Senate and the 

 House continuing to meet, Governor James, 

 authorized by the Constitution, sent a mes- 

 sage the same day to the House adjourning 

 the Legislature without day. This message 

 the House refused to entertain, and adjourned 

 to the 22d, and on that day the following pre- 

 amble and resolution were passed in the Senate : 



Whereas, Heretofore and since the 2d day of 

 June, A. D. 1871, a vacancy in the office of Governor 

 of the State of Nebraska has existed, the duties of 

 which said office have been temporarily performed 

 by the Secretary of State ; and 



Whereas l The said Secretary of State, in the capa- 

 city of acting Governor of said State, has attempted 

 to usurp powers not conferred on him by the Con- 

 stitution of said State ; and 



Whereas : The said Secretary of State, in the capa- 

 city of acting Governor thereof, has refused to rec- 

 ognize the acts of the Legislature of said State as 

 valid and binding : now, therefore 



JBe it resolved by the Senate of the State of Nebraska, 

 the House of Representatives concurring therein, That 

 the said Legislature meet in convention in the hall 

 cf the House of Eepresentatives, on Wednesday, 

 the 24th day of January, A. D. 1872, at two o'clock 

 P. M., to elect a Governor to fill said vacancy, by 

 joint ballot of said Senate and House of Eepresent- 

 atives, which (said election) shall be conducted in 

 manner and form following, to wit : When the roll 

 of each House is called by the Clerk thereof, each 

 member present shall name one man, viva voce, as 

 his choice for Governor, and the person receiving 

 a majority of all the votes cast shall be declared 

 elected Governor of the State of Nebraska to fill 

 said vacancy. 



No further steps, however, were taken, as the 

 two Houses, failing to obtain a quorum, dis- 

 persed on the 24th of January. Early in Febru- 

 ary a peculiar state of aifairs arose, owing to 

 the absence of Governor James from the State.. 

 The constitution provides that "if, during the 

 vacancy of the office of Governor, the Secre- 

 tary of State shall be impeached, displaced,, 

 resign, die, or be absent from the State, the 

 powers and duties of the office of Governor 

 shall devolve upon the President of the Sen- 

 ate ; and, should a vacancy occur by impeach- - 

 ment, death, resignation, or absence from the 

 State, of the President of the Senate, the 

 Speaker of the House of Representatives shall! 

 act as Governor till the vacancy be filled." 



