The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18

with energy. The snag-boats on the West
ern rivers have been sold.
The Pacifc Railroad Expeditions have
been successfully completed. IL is decided
that the most practicable economical route
is that Of 80. parallel. The Colorado Desert
is not susceptible Of culture. The Secretary
l. quite favorable to this route, setting forth
it, advantages in glaring colors. The prac-
ticability Of sinking Artesian wells along the
route was tested. The contributions To
physical science included in the results OF
these surveys arc exceedingly valuable.
The final portion Of the report Is an elab-
crate constellation Of the military defences
of our Pacific territory. IL is argued that n
railroad 10 the Pacific Is indispensable, for
the reason that il will be the only means Of
throwing relief into the Pacific country, in
case of any collision with maritime power,
and our navy being inadequate to the con-
yoy Of the necessary number OF storeship-.
A railroad communication is not only likely
10 be paying enterprise, but it will have
the effect Of Certifying the Western coast
against attacks from abroad. No stronger
ground in favor Of Pacific road has been
taken by any party not directly concerned
in the speculation, than that which Is as
sumed BY Mr.. Secretary Davis.
Posr OFFIcE DEPARTMENT. The Post
master Generals Report shows net increase
of S62 mail routes during the past year
2i,770 Offices in operation on the 3Oth OF
November; the total annual transportation
of mails g. ,40l ,lG6 miles, costing $685.
23S, The railroad services has increased j.
Asa, l32 miles, and the coach and steamboat
services has diminished, the first l2-l2 per-
cent, and the latter 30 per cent.
The expenditures of the department for
the year have amounted to 80 ,96S 81, %,
and the receipts to S7,3i2, 1913. The ex-
cess Of expenditures over receipts S2,62d,-
206,l6. Increase Of revenue over last year
. sc per cent.
Judge Campbell discountenances the con-
tinuance of the large appropriation every
year 10 the Collins steamers. lie says they
have failed TO keep their engagements with
Congress, that the allowance paid by the
British government for similar service is
enough. and that he cannot but regard the
continuance Of the present increased rate OF
compensation, which in March, will amonnt
to 81 $50, 900, rs n mere gratuity, Destroy
ing all competition on a most important
route, and like all such appropriations, at
tended by most pernicious iniluenccs.-N.
y Ere. Post.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT. The tables on
foreign trade show that the increase Ofdutia-
bic goods imported during the year ending
June 80, 1855, over the year ending June
80, 1916, is Sl26, $4,000; do, offrce goods,
SlS,352, 926; decrease of specie and bullion,
Slll 400; showinga total increase of : llI-
OPS 1896 in favor Of 1855. The increase last
year over 1850 isgiycn thus-Dutiable goods,
SOS, ,6SS; Of free goods, SIS ,3IS 1884
decrease of specie, and bullion, S96S $50;
total increase, $3.50, IA, 642.
The foreign imports nj all the ports of the
United States (including, Of course Califor-
mia and Oregon) for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1855, were S26l'3S2, 9G0, against
1905, $50, 2G3 for the preceding year, show
ing decline of 81, 39I ,293. The totalex-
ports from the United States to foreign ports,
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1855,
were S27j, l5G, $40, against S27s al ,06l
for the proceeding year, showing u decline
of only S3,0S4,2lS Ii will be seen from
this that, while for the year 1854 the inn
ports exceeded the exports S2i $50, lS9, for
the last year the exports exceeded the i'm
ports SI3, 773 800.
The tables further show an increase during
the last year Of $40, l02, sG4 in the imports
of free goods, but falling of Of SOL ,253,-
S07 in dutiablc merchandise, and 80 ,2lG,-
$50 i'm specie.
nc the total exports of specie for the last
year, SS3.957 ALB were Of domestic produc-
ton. and =. $50, 925 of foreign. The ship |
ments Of domestic produce, exclusive of
specie, were s22 ,46S 1863 less than for the |
preceding year, while there is an increase
of : ,491 ,223l in the exports of foreign pro-
duce, and Sl2 ,565, $40 in the exports Of
specie.
The Secretary fayOrs the admission, duty |
free. Of wool as a raw material together with
chemicals and dye stutis, but no interference
with the article Of iron. The Eastern man
uiactures, it is said, would be satisfied with
this.
DEPARTMENT OF TIE INTERIOR. Mr.. Me
Clelland deyotes large space of his report
To a consideration of the Indian question.
After reviewing the present condition OF the
Indians he concludes that there is necessity
for kindness and forbearance ON our part,
and that there is evident propriety in the
attempt TO ciyilizc and christianize the red
men. lie alludes to the good accomplished
by the missionaries, and declares il "a be n
duty 20 perseyere in all humane attempts TO
preserve the race from extinction.
The statistics Of this report cover much
space ; we give the principal figures.
Amount Of land sold last fiscal year,
acres, S,I2O,4I4
Amount received therefor S2,35S,9lS.
Land surveyed in 1855, acres, l5,3l5, sS3
Land, sold G,26l, l63
Land warrants issued 1884
Virginia military land warrants l,i6O,OOO
Pensioners l4,4SS !
Pensions paid Sl,5O5, liz
Patents issued since January, /,
1855 $500
Expenditure Nat. Ins. Hospital III ,34l
\ largo amount of land is ready to be
brought into market the coming year.
REroRr OF TIE SECRETARY OF TUE NAVY.
The report Of Secretary Dobbin Is an ex-
trcmely interesting document but il lies in
the fact which il furnishes solely, for it is
excessively wordy, longspun, and sloyenly
written, The most essential part OF 1t Is tho
defence Of the Navy Retiring Board. The
defence of the Board is not particularly
forcible, and all it, value is negatived
by the admission that important mis-
takes have been made, injustice been done
to worthy officers, and that q necessity
exists for correcting the errors the Board
ha,! fallen into. The Secretary calls the
action Of the Board "a REFORM though
no reforms whatever have been arrived at or
effected, and She Navy is left in precisely the
same defective condition il was before the
retiring Board assembled. The only thing
the Board accomplished was to put certain
officers of duty and put tcrtain other officers
IN their places, who, in isStrful number Of
instances. We have reason to Ielieye, are no
better than those they displaced.
Like all his predecessors, the Secretary
earnestly recommends an increase oil the
Navy, and particularly an addition o. steam
ships Of q light draft Of water. A great
na,al force, the Secretary hints, cannot he