The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-12-15

details in relation to this important and rap.
idly extending branch Of public service, shows
that the expenditure of the year ending June
80, 1854, including Sl33,4s3 Of balance due
TO foreign offices, amounted tn SS,7IO,9O7.-
The gross receipts during the same period
amounted to S6,955 $685. exhibiting IN expen-
diture over income of Sl,755,32l, and d.
minution Of deficiency, US compared with the
last year, S36l,756.
The increase of the revenue of the depart
ment for the year ending June 30, 1854, over
the preceding year, was S970,399. No pro-
portionate increase, however, can be antici-
pated for the current year in consequence of
the act Of Congress of June %, 1854, proyid-
ing for increased compensation TO all post
masters. From these statements it is appar-
ent that the Post Office Department, instead
Of defraying its expenses, according to the
design at the time of its creation, is now, and
under existing laws must continue to be, to
no small extent, a charge upon the general
treasury. The cost of mail transportation,
during the year ending June 30, 1854. ex-
ceeds the cost of the preceding year by $685.
"a. again call your attention to tbs subject
of mail transportation by ocean steamers, and
commend the suggestions of the Postmaster
General to your early attention.
During the last fiscal year L 1910, 935 acres
of the public lands have been surveyed, and
s,l90,i7 acres brought into market. The
number of acres sold is 735,735, and the
amount received therefor S9,2s5,533. The
aggregate amount of lands sold, located under
military scrip and land warrants, selected as
swamp lands by States and by locating un.
der grants for roads, is upwards of 100000
of acres. The increase of lands sold, over the
previous year, is about 100000 of acres;
and the sales during the two first quarters of
the current year present the extraordinary re-
suit of five and n half millions sold, exceeding
by nearly four millions of acres the sales Of
the corresponding quarters of the last year,
thus increasing TO an extent unparalleled dur
ing any like period in our past history the
amount of revenue prov .ded from this source
for the Federal Treasury
The commendable policy of the govern
ment, in relation to setting apart public do
main for those who have served their country
in time of war, is illustrated by the fact, that
since 1890 no less than thirty millions of acres
have been applied TO this object
The suggestions, which submitted in nv
annual message Of last year, in reference to
grants of land in aid of the construction of
railways, were less full and explicit than the
magnitude Of the subject and subsequent de-
velopments would seem to render proper and
desirable OF the soundness of the principle
then asserted with regard to the limitation of
the power of Congress, entertain no doubt;
but in its application it is not enough that
the value of lands in a particular locality NAV
be enhanced; that, in fact, larger amount of
money may probably be received, in given
time, for alternate sections, without the i'm
pulse and influence of the proposed improve
ments A prudent proprietor looks beyond
limited sections of his domain, beyond present
results, to the ultimate effect which a partic-
ular line ofpoicy is likely to produce upon
all his possessions and interests.
The government, which is trustee in this
NATTER for the people of the States, is bound
to take the same wise and comprehensive
view. Prior to and during the last session of
Congress, upwards of thirty millions of acres
of land we're withdrawn from public sale with
view TO applications for grants of this char
acter pending before Congress A careful
review ofthe whole 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 session contemplated
the construction Of more than five thousand
miles Of road, and grants to the amount of
nearly twenty millions of ncres of the public
domain. Even admitting the right on the
part of Congress to be unqnestionable, is it
quite clear that the proposed grants would be
productive Of good, and not evil! The differ
ent projects are confined, for the present to
eleven States Of this Union, and one Terrific
ry. The reasons assigned for the, grants,
show that it is proposed to put the works
speedily in process Of construction.
When we reflect, that since the commence
ment of the construction of RAILWAYS in the
United States, stimulated as they have been
by the large dividends realized from the earlier
works over the great thoroughfares, and be-
tween the most important points of commerce
and population, encouraged by State legisla-
ton, and pressed forward by the amazing
energy Of private enterprise, only seventeen
thousand miles have been completed in all
the States in n quarter of century when
we see the crippled condition of many works
commenced and prosecuted upon what were
deemed TO be sound principles and safe cal.
culations when we contemplate the enor-
nous absorption of capital withdrawn from
the ordinary channels of business, the ex.
travagant rates OF interest Mt this moment paid
to continue operations, the bankruptcies not
merely in money, but in character, and the
inevitable effect upon finances generally -
can it be doubted that the tendency is to run
to excess in this matter!
Is 1t wise to augment this excess BY en-
couraging hopes of sudden wealth expected
10 flow from magnificent schemes dependent
upon the action of Congress! Does the spirit
which has produced such results, need to be
stimulated, or checked? Is it not the better
rule to leave all these works to private enter
prise, regulated, and, when expedent, aided
by the cooperation of States If construct
ed by private capital, the stimulaut and the
cheek 60 together and furnish salutary re.
straint against speculative schemes and ex.
travagance. But il is manifest that, with the
mos; effective guards, there is danger of 90
ing too fast and too far.
We may well pause before n proposition
contemplating simultaneous movement for
the construction of railroads, which, in extent
will equal, exclusive of the great Pacific road
and all its branches, nearly one-thrd of the
entire length Of such works, now completed,
in the United States, and which cannot cost
with equipments, less than $l5O,000,O 0O.-
The dangers likely to result from combine
tons of interests of this character can hardly
DO over estimated. But, independently of
these considerations, where is The accurate
knowledge, the comprehensive intelligence
which shall discriminate between the relative
claims of these twenty. eight proposed roads,
in eleven States and one Territory! Where