Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-01-23
VOL. 2.--NO. "a.

I deducting foreign balances, amounted to s6,-
Sl665I 81, making difference in favor OF
| 1855 of S5IS,5I9 10. The excess of eypendi-
ture for 1855 over that of 1854, is S2,626, ,208
10. This excess is attributed partly to the in-S
crease in compensation to Postmasters and
| clerks of office, and partly to the increase OF
expenditures for transportation owing to tho Y
great extension OF the railroad service. Tho :,
condition of the Department goes to show that
the rates fixed by the act of Sd March, 49, - -
will not enable the Department TO . ~ -
self by its own resources. q 3. .
Another cause of this excess E1e- = -
is attributed to the letters and do -
ried free of charge for members ON -
and others, and to the immense 22 So
printed matter conveyed at nod 81 s
Postmaster General thinks that -. - - s
of fifty per cent. for advance paymefis
papers, is wholly without justification. 2.
so recommends that prepayment by stan
he made COMPULSORY on all kinds of matters
The expenditure of the Department for 1856, -
is estimated at $40, ,199, ,024, and the means
available for the same year, 5000, ,S74, leav-
ing deficiency Of s., ,18S, ,l51, TO be provided
for.
Reference is again made to the fact that tho
Collins line of steamers receives from the Go
vernment 1855, 900 for twenty-six trips, whilo
the British Government paid the Cunard line
$500, 700 for ifty-two trips. which, in the opin-
| ion of the Postmaster-General. is amply s
cient Measures have been receni - <<
lay before the Mexican Governm( IS
| on the subject of postal conveA3 - z<
Report alludes at some length to the last Re- ~
port of the Postmaster General Of Great Brit =
ain, and concludes by deprecating tho denun-
citation CT the Department for mistakes, care
lessness, or neglect, instead of advising it Of
the wrong committed, and leaving it to apply y
the remedy.
DEPARTAEyT OF THE INTERIoR.-Mr. McClel
| land devotes large space of his report toa
consideration of the Indian question. His
views clearly expressed. and number OF
| recommendations submitted.
| Tho Indian chiefs and warriors, addicted TO
drinking and gambling, are made the dupes of
c'ii-uiSposeu peiSons.-T The system of grant
ing lfCvTIsrs .---------.
of all the evils of which complaint is made.
1t is necessary to abolish the cash system of
payments, and enable the Indian to obtain all
he requires at cost price, if mean to reme-
dy tie trouble, or to civilize and enlighten tho
savage. A study of the history Of the Indi-
ans, in connection with the conduct of the -
whites towards them, reveals the fact that In
dian disturbances often traceable to the in
: discretions and aggressions Of the white men,
Upon this point the report enlarges. Never
before has the Indian been subjected to such
severe trials and hardships the offences OF
which he is guilty are too often palliated by
extreme want. All this impresses the neces-
sity of kindness and forbearance and accor-
dinghy the Secretary suggests the propriety OF
attempting to civilize and christianize the Red
Men. He alludes to the amount of good that
has been effected by missionary enterprise,
and discovers in the Indian a susceptibility of
Improvement and civilization, which renders
it duty to persevere in all humane efforts TO
preserve the race from extinction. In this
particular, Mr.. McClelland and Col. Davis arc
Of two minds. The statistics of fh:s report
cover much space. The principal figures are:
Acres of land sold last fiscal year, s,T20,474
Amount received therefor, 2,35s, ,91S
J Lands surveyed in 1856, acres, l5,315,aS3
Lands sold, 6,2eI ,l63
Land warrants issued 81 95S 40 4
Virginia military land warrants, AGO, 900
Pensioners, l44S0o
Pensions paid, Sl,505, l1s
Patents issued since Jan. I, 1855, I,so9
Patent Office Building, $1,000 01oe1-
Expend. National Insane Hospital, l71sfynss
Indian stock, now held, 2.Oss,s faEA
Surplus fund of the Department, $50
The business of the General Land Ofc
greatly increased. The surveys hszs g - W. =
, vigorously prosecuted, and a large q Az
land is ready to be brought into ula-s Ssssz-
L the coming year. .--- kndzo56
.-TToN or rvl-Roring. ths7 b =
I Envoy to China, has made report assereu
tai statistics of China, giving that
population of 400, 100000. Kiang-sI 80. :