St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-18

most gratifying evidences Of in
creased vigor. AS it is comparative
ly small, IL is the more important that
it should be as complete as possible
in all the elements of strength that
it should be efficient in the character
of it's officers, in the zeal and disci-
pline of its men, in the reliability of
its ordinance, and in the capacity of
its ships. In all these various quail
ties the navy has made great progress
within the last few years. The exc
cution of the law of Congress, of Feb.
%, 1855, "to promote the efficiency
of the navy" has been attended by the
most advantageous results. The law
for promoting discipline among the
men is found convenient and salutary.
The system of granting an honor
able discharge to the faithful seamen
on the expiration to the period of their
enlistment, and permitting them to re-
enlist after leave of absence of a
few months, without cessation of pay,
is highly beneficial in it's influence.
The apprentice system recently adopt
ed is evidently destined to incorporate
into the service large number of our
countrymen hitherto so difficult to pro-
cure.
Several hundred American boys are
now on three years. cruise in our
national vessels, and will return well
trained scamen In the ordinance de-
partment there is decided and graft
flying indication Of progress creditable
to it and to the country. The suggest
ions of the Secretary of the Navy, in
regard to further improvement in that
branch of the service, I commend to
your favorable action.
The new frigates ordered by Con-
gress are now a1oat, and two Of them
in active service. They are superior
models of naval architecture, and with
their formidable battery add largely
to public strength and security.
concur in the views expressed
by the Secretary of the department in
favor of a still further increase of our
naval force. saf. -ta
The report of the Secretary of the
Interior presents the facts and views
in relation to internal affairs over
which the supervision of his depart
ment extends, of much interest and
Importance
The aggregate sales of the public
lands, during the last fiscal year,
amount to nine million two hundred
and twenty-seven thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight acres ; for
which has been received the sum Of
eight million eight hundred and twen-
ty-one thousand four hundred and
fourteen dollars. tn + ga
During the same period there have
been located, with military scrip and
land-warrants, and for other purposes,
thirty million one hundred thousand
two hundred and thirty acres, thus
making total aggregate of thirty
nine million three hundred and twenty
eight thousand one hundred and eight
acres. On the 3Oth of Septmber last,
surveys had been made of sixteen
million eight hundred and seventy
three thousand six hundred and nine
ty-nine acres, a large proportion Of
which is ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in re-
gard to the complication and progress
i've expansion of the business of the
different bureaux of the department !;
to the pension system to the coloniz-
alton of Indian tribes, and the recon-
mendations in relation various inn
provements in the District of Columbia
are especially commended to your con-
sideration.
The report of the Postmaster Gener-
al presents fully the condition of that
department of the government. Its
expenditures for the last fiscal year
were ten million four hundred and
seven thousand eight hundred and six
ty-eight dollars ; and its gross receipts
seven million six hundred and twenty
eight thousand eight hundred and one
dollars-making an excess of expendi-
ture over receipts of two million
seven hundred and seventy-nine thou
sand and sixty-seven dollars. The de-
ficiency of this department is seven
hundred and forty-four thousand dol
lars greater than for the year ending
June 80, 1853.
OF this deficiency, three hundred and
thirty thousand dollars is to be attrib-
uted to the additional compensation
allowed postmasters by the act of Con-
gress of June %, 1854. The mail ia
cilities in every part of the country
have been very much increased in
that period, and the large addition of
railroad service, amounting to seven
thousand nine hundred and eight
miles, has added largly to the cost of
transportation.
The inconsiderable augmentation of
the income of the Post Office Depart
ment under the reduced rates of post
age, and it's increasing expenditures,
must, for the present, make it de-
pendent to some extent upon the
Treasury for support The recommen-
dations of the Postmaster General, in
relation to the abolition of the ranking
privilege, and his views on the estab-
lishment of mail steamships lines, de-
serve the consideration Of Congress.
l also call the special attention of Con-
gress to the statement Of the Post
master General respecting the sums
n L. .L-~A r.