New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-11
sNe6o ORLEANS 9ailg GresfeItt,
DEP * R.trMENTAL REPORTS
Report Of the Postmaster General.

25 500 At that date there were III optlaVou Ae"i
5000 mil routes the length Of which is estimated at
23o642 miles costing $6S5O,474, divided as follows
2O,323 miles Of railroad, la,95l steamboat, ana
50,453 canal lines, and nearly 154,0O miles OF 1h1e-
rior grades. The increase during the last fiscal year
was nearly 10000 miles of railroad, 352 miles OF
of steamboat $50 miles of canal lines and $500
miles of inferior grades. In Nebraska and Kansas
223s miles were added to the length of the routes.
Between the lst Of July 1852 and July LIST, 1856, the
railroad service was increased 1O,177 miles, exhibit
ing the fact that within that time this description of
service was more than doubled On the LIST of De-
cember, 1856 the length of railroad routes had in
creased to 81 $40 miles, and the total cost for this
service at that date amounted to $2403,747. The
whole cost of the inland service on the LIST of July
was $6526,02s.
The Postmaster recommends thatregular contracts,
not exceeding $4,000 per annum, be made with the
Panama Railroad Company for the conveyance of the
mails across the Isthmus also contract for their
conveyance via Nicaragua or Tehuantepec, with a
view to weekly mail between the Atlantic ports and
California.
The expenditures ofthe year 1856 were $40, l05296
and the gross revenue, including annual appropra-
tioIs for free mail matter, s. 620,S2l, showing de-
fciency of 50 1877 900 He recommends the abolition
of the fEankng privilege, and the compulsory pre-
payment of all transient printed matter Also the
repeal Of the act Of 1885, which gives the Postmaster
General discretionary authority to make new contracts
for ocean steamship service. a4 ...
The expense to the Government of the four ocean
steamship lines running between New York, New
Orleans Havana and Chagres, he states at 81 49S O0O
He states among other things that negotiations are
in progress with view to the reduction of the British
transit charge United States closed mails, and OF
the rate Of postage between the United States and
Great Britain to twelve cents single letter ormore.
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.
The report giyesa statement the present strength
and condition of the Navy, and of its operations
during the past four years. The Secretary states
that the increase of our in the Pacific rem
ders the presence of two squadrons necessary, and
recommends that practice ships adopt the French
and English system of gunnery. he also recon-
mends new and complete survey of the Guano
Islands.
The Secretary approves of the proposition to build
steam sloops-ofwar of light draugh, and repeats his
Recommendation to that effect.
Report OF the Secretary OF the interior.
The quantity of land surveyed since lastrepor and
up to the 30 of September last, amounts to lG,673
G99 acres exclusive of school sections The Secretary
thinks it is important that Congress should immed
ately settle sndry grave questions arising out of the
execution Of the Graduation Act, either by affirming
the action Of the LandOfce directing the patents
to be issued without further requirement.
The quantity ofland sold for cash during the fiscal
year was over $50 900 acres and the receipts there
for S2l4 Ala The total amount of land disposed of
is over 390O0,OO0 acres.
The number OF patents issued within the year will
probably reach $500. The report says that during
the present Administration 50 Indian treaties have
been negotiated 20 Of which remain be acted upon
by the Senate. By these treaties Indian titles have
been extnguished to nearly IT'S 900 of land
The aggregate money consideration therefor is $ll,
1S423S.
The Indians within our borders are supposed to
number about 100000 The progress of civilization
among them is steadily increasing.
Report OF the COMMISSIONER of Pensions.
There were 1,l3O original applications,
and applications for increase of army
pensions Revolutionary during the
year ending June 80, 1856, amount
ing to, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $74,0lO G5
Arrears due on the above pensions at the
date OF Issuing the pension certificate, 2O4 1913 81
Paid during the past year by pension
agents in the several States and Ter
ritorie.s .......,....,......1,s3 1888, 1876 81
The number OF pensions on the roll on the
30th of June, 1856, was 1908,
amounting to. .......-...... II OIL sos 81 |
There have been 900 pensioners added to the rolls,
and 1910 stricken off bydeath. OF the latter num-
Der 2l2 were revolutionary soldiers. Many of this
class of pensioners yet living reported to be from
So TO LOG years old.
Erom the navy there have been Il orig-
nal applications, and applications for
increase admitted, the annual amount
Of which is s., 525 and the arrears
due at the date of issuing the pension
certificates amounted to $3,t74 81.
The number of pensioners on the rolls
June 30, 1856, in the several States
and Territories, was S54, making
yearly amount of. ............... l22,5 800 s.
There have beeu As pensioners added to the rolls,
and IS stricken off by death.
The total amount paid by navy pension
agents to pensioners, during the year
was. l27,55s 90
From January to December 81, 1852
the number of original applications,
and applications for increase of pen
sions, both army and navy admitted
was Observation-Disclosures, 2,20G 90
The yearly amount ..,...,...... 1926 GO
And the arrears due at the date of issuing
each pension certificate .....,..,. G75,SS6 81
An average Of the time from April |, 1853
to June 80, 1856, shows that each
year the number of original applica-
tons, and applications increase of
pensions admitted, was. ...,.,..... 2,949 90
The yearly amount. ......,............ 2lG,70t 81
And the arrears due at the date of issuing
the pension certificates. ,.....,.... ass, S33 05
Up to December l, 1856, six thousand pensioners
ave been admitted under the act of February g. 1858
Report of the Secretary of War.
The authorized strength of the army is now II 99I
men, The actual strength at the date of the returns,
July / 1885, was Is ,5G2. The number Of enlistments
made during the twelve months ending September 30,
1856 was i, 440. The number of offers refused on
account of minority and untitness for service was
5594 The number of casualties during the same time
was 6, 606, of which 223 were by assertions.
All our Indian troubles in the West have ceased eX
cept with the Cheyennes.
The disposition Of the troops is given in detail.
1t is recommended to eytinguish the pOssessat0ry
rights Of the Hudson Bay Company, as they owe no
allegiance to our Government, and would be disposed
TO exercise a powerful influence among the Indians
against our people, if occasion required.
vigorous campaign has been projected against the
FlOridt Indians, General Harvey commanding the