Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1854-12-12

.,~-vss~~-~ss~ssss ss-As
must to so great an extent depend. Although
much attention has already been given BY Con
ere.s u the proper construction and arrangement
Of steam vessels and al passenger ships, still
+, believed that the achievements of science ant
mechanical skill in this direction have not beef
exhausted No good reason exists for the mark
I'd distinction which appears upon our statute
between the laws for protecting life and propert,
At SEA, anu those for protecting them on The land
To most Of The States severe penalties IRE provi
ded to punish conductors Of trains, engineers ant
others employed in the transportation Of persons
by railway, or by steamboats, on rivers. WHY
should not the same principle be applied to acts
Of lnsubordination. cowardice, or other miscon'
duct on che part of masters and mariners, produ'
ciag injury or death 10 passengers on the higt
seas, beyond the jurisdiction of any of the States
and where such delinquencies can be reached
only by the power of Congress? The whole
subject is earnestly commended TO your consde-
ration. So
The report Of the Postmaster General, TO which
Won are referred foi many interesting details in
relation 10 this important and rapidly extending
branch Of The public service, shows that the ex-
penditure Of the year ending June 80, 1854, in
GLIDING one hundred and thir,y-three thousand
four hundred and eighty three dollars Of balance
due 10 foreign Offices, amounted 10 eight million
seven hundred and ten thousand nine hundred and
seven dollars. The gross receipts during the
same period amounted 10 six million nine hundred
and 6f.y-6ve Thousand five bundled and eighty
six dollars; exhibiting an expenditure over in
come of one million seven hnndred and fifty five
thousand three hundred and twenty one dollars,
and diminution Of deficiency, as compared with
the last year, Of three hundred and sixty. one
thousand seven hundred and City six dollars
The increase of the revenue of the department,
for the wear ending June 80, 1854, over the pre-
ceding year, was nine hundred and seventy lhon-
eand three hundred and ninety nine dollars. No
proportionate increase, however can be anticipa-
led for the current year, in consequence of the
act of Congress of June %, 1854, providing for
increased compensation 10 all pos,masiers. From
these statements il is apparen. that the Pos: Of
fee Department, instead Of defraying its expen-
ses, according TO the design at the time of s
alton, is now, and under existing laws, must co,.-
tinue TO be, to no small extent, charge upon the
general treasury. The cost of mail .ranspor,a-
lions during the year ending June 80, 1854, ex-
ceeds the cost of the preceding year by four hun
bred and ninety five thousand and seventy four
dollars. | again call your attention to the sub
ject of mail transportation by ocean steamers,
and commend the suggestions of the Postmaster
General to yonr early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven millions and
seventy thousand nins hundred and ,hirty-fve
acres Of the public lands have been surveyed, and
eight millions one hundred and ninety thousand
and seventeen acres brought into market. The
number of acres sold is seven million thirty FIVE
thousand seven hundred and tl,irty-fve, and the
amount received therefor nine million two hun
bred and eighty-fse thousand and ihirty-three
dollars. The aggregate amount of lands sold.
located under military scrip aud land warrants.
al lau Hc hxy nd he
ting under grants for roads, is upwar.s OF twenty
three millions Of acres. The increase of lands
sold, over the previous year, is about six millions
of acres; and the sales during the first two quar-
ters Of the current present the extraordinary
result of FIVE and half millions sold, exceeding
BY nearly four millions of acres the sales of the
corresponding quarters of the lat year, thus in
ereaslng 10 an extent unparalleled during anv
like period in our past history the amount Of ev-
e, ue provided from this source for the Federal
Treasury.
The commendable policy Of the government
in relation to setting apar pubic domain for those
who have served their country IN time OF war, l.
illustrated by the fact, that since 1870 no less
than thirty millions of acres have been applied
10 this object.
The suggestions which submitted in my
annual me sage of last year, in reference to
grants Of land made Of the construction of
railways, were less full and explicit than the
maen tude Of the subj ct and subsequent de-
70 opments would seem to render proper and
desirable. OF the soundncss Of the principle
then asserted with regard to the limitation IF
the power Of Congress, entertain no doubt
but in its application it is no. enough that the
value Of lands in particular locality may be
enharced-,hat, in fact, larger amount of
money may probably he received in a given
time, for alternate sections, than could have
been realized for all the sections, without the
impulse and influence of the proposed i'm
provements. A prudent proprietor looks be-
yond limited sections of his domain, hey ond
present result TO the ultimate cffac; which
particular line of policy is likely to produce
upon all his possessions and interests. The
Government which is trustee IN this matter for
the people Of the States, is bound to take this
wise and comprehensive view. Prior to and
during the last session of Congress, upwards
Of thirty millions Of acres Of land were with
drawn from public sales with a view to APP
plica,ions for grants Of this character pend
ing before Congress. A careful revi Of the
subject led me to direct that all such orders
be abrogated, and the lands restored to market
and instructions were Immediately given to
that effect. The applications at the last ses
sion contemplated the construction of more
than FIVE thousand miles Of road, and grants
to the amount Of nearly twenty millions of
acres Of the public domain. Even admitting
the right on the part of Congress to be un-
Questionable. is it quite clear that the proposed
grants would bs productive Of good and not
Of evil? The different projects are confined,
for the present, to eleven States of the Union
and one territory. The reasons assigned for
the grants show that it is propose 70 pul the
works speedily in process of construction
When we reflect that since the construction of
railways in the United States, stimulated AS