Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-12-12
Department of the Interior.

The Renort of the Secretary Of the Interior is
an elaborate document, presenting iuil exno'
of the condition and operations OF the new depart,
ment and the multifarious interests OF the Land
service, Indian affairs, the pension ONCE, &C. &C
over which it has charge.
The estimates for the various branches oil the
public service within It's jurisdiction. for the ap-
preaching year, reach the large amount oi S1'l52'
O43 AT; being an excess over the estimates 1or
the current year Of $l,726, $40 So. The increase
arises principally from the enlarged expense OF
Indian affairs and the pension list for which the
estimates are respectively, $l.44l, ,472 66 and 49,,
644.726 81.
The number of claims for warrants under tie
late bounty land law, up to Nov. 5th, was 9,4lS,
and is rapidly increasing. The whole number Oh
persons who, if living would be entitled to the
benefit of the law, the Secretary says, would ex-
ceed half million; and he estimates that the
number of claimants will be about 100000.
| Ofthe public lands there were disposed of, S.
! I84,4IO 81 acres; of which 100000 II were
sod and 3,405, $50 90 located on bounty land
warrants For the three quarters of 1850, the
quantity disposed of has been 2Sl5,360 AZ acres !;
500 0s2 80 sold, and 500. l20 90 located on war
! rants.
! The Secretary urges the Importance OF ma
tonal highway TO the Pacific, within our own ter
ritory, from the valley of the Mississippi to the
western coast, and the necessity of obtaining tul
and accurate information as TO the shortest ana
best route, having reference not only to dis
tance, but also to the soil, climate, and adaptation
10 agricultural purposes Of the intermediate coun-
! try. .,
! He renews the recommendation OF his prede-
cessor for the establishment OF an Agricultural bu-
/ reau; and advises the institution OF a model form
! at Mount Vernon "whose soil was onced titled oy
the hands and is now consecrated by the dust OF
! the Father of his country.
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.
The report of the Navy Department is of some
length, and is characterised by clearness and abl-
| ty 1t gives an account of the operations of the
| six different squadrons into which the ships IN
commission divided.
It is remarked that occasional instances of Brit
ish interference with vessels bearing our flag on
the African coast have occurred, but that In each
case explanations and apologies have been made
to our officers that station and the reports there
OF transmitted to the government.
The Secretary says that our flag has been res
pected on every sea- and that the interest of CON-
merce have been secure under its protection
The Navy consist of ships OF the line, razee,
10 frigates, 81 sloops of war; briggs, schooners,
steam rigates, 3 steamers OF tile first class, b
steamers of less than first class, and five store
ships The ships in commission are l razee 8
frigates, Is sloops of war, briggs, schooners,
(coast suryey,) steam frigates, steamer OF the
first class, 8 less than first class, ships of the
line as receiving ships, steamer do. and sloop
do. -Four ships of the line and two frigates are on
the stocks in process of construction, but the
work suspended. Be sides these, there are the mail
steamships OH the New York and Liverpool and
New York and Chagres lines, liable TO naval du-
! ty in case of necessity.
The Secretary notices the improvements going
on in the Navy Yards in Philadelphia and other
places; states that he has invited proposals for
The construction Of Dry Dock in the Pacific /;