Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-12-18
Report of the Postmaster General.

faction.-Memoirs of Elkanah Watson.
Report of the Postmaster General.
The Postmaster Generals report shows
the number of post Offices in June 3Oth,
1856, to have been 1865, being an increase
Df 1854 in four years.
On the 3Oth of June there were in opera
ton nearly 5000 mail routes, the length of
which is estimated at 239 ,6l2 miles, costing
Sc ,35O ,474 divided as follows 2o,323 miles
of railrosd; 1881 steamboats,, and 5O,453
canal lines, and nearly $4,000 miles of in
ferior grades. The increase during the last
fiscal ear was nearly 10000 miles of rail-
road 332 miles of steamboat. $50 miles of
csaal lines, and 5000 miles of inferior
grades. In Nebraska and Kansas 2.23S
miles we're added to the length of routes
Between the first of July, 1852. and July
lst, '56, the railroad service was increased,
IO.I77 miles exhibiting the fact that within
that time this description of service was
more than doubled. On the lst Of Decem-
Der, 1856, the length of railroa d routes had
increased to 1910 miles, and the :otal cost
for this service at that date amounted to
S2,4O3,747. The whole cost Of the inland
service on the lst of July was S6 ,526,O2s
The Secretary alludes to the Panama
Company seizing. on the occasion OF the
wthdra val of the steamers via Nicaragua to
force the department to pay what ne con-
slders an exhorbitant price across the 18TH
mus; and he recommends the making Of a
regular contract, not exceeding $4,000 per
annum, with that company and contract
not exceeding 5000, 600 per annum via Nj
caragua or Tehauntepec, SO as to give a
wefr:oail between the Atlantic ports and
California.
The expenditures for the year 1856 were
$iO,lO5 ,2s6, and the gross revenue, includ-
ing annual appropriations Cor free mail mat
ter, 81 $40 ,s2l showing deficiency of S2,-
1877 900. He recommends the abolition Of
the franking privilege, and the compulsory
preaayment of all transient printed matter.
Alap the repeal OF the act o. ls45 which
gives the Postmaster General discretionary
authority to make new contracts for ocean
steamship service.
He al!udes to the fact that embracing the
branch from New Orleans to Havana there
are now four ocean steamship lines run
ming out of New York at an expense to the
government of 81. .4ss 900 per annum. No
reason is perceived why one port o. the
country should be preferred to the exclusion
of others. Among other points it is stated
u, negotiations are in progress with
lat ensIto The reduction Of tine British trans it
chafre on United States closed mails, ard
of the rate of postage between the United
States and Great Britain to la cents sim
gle letter or more.
SECRETARY OF THE NAvY's REPORT.
The Secretary of the Navy gives de-
tailed view of the operations of the Navy
du1eg the last year, and its present
strength. Among his recommendation
are. for another squadron in the Pacific. rem
dersd necessary by our extending CONNER
ce; for the adoption of the English and
French system of gunnery in practice
sbjps; and for the dispatch of small steam
er. to survey the Guano Islands on which
Commodore Mervine made an unsatisfactory
report.
The Secretary regards the construction oil
the six war steamers as inaugurating new
era>in the naval service, and repeats his for
mer Recommendation for building steam
sloops of war of small draft. The sending
out o seamen to relieve distant crews Is
spoken of as an experiment and will De con-
thu. It shall work we'll. The Secretary
likewise recommends the appointment o.
l ASSISTANT 2ursers with moderate compensa-
4 ton.
sScRErARY OF THE INTERIORS REPORT.
The Secretary of the Interiors Report
states the quantity of lands surveyed since
last report and up to the 3Oth OF September
last. at l6 1878 ,699 acres, exclusive of schoo
sections. The execution of the graduation
act has raised many grave questions which
call for the interposition Of Congress. HI
saws it is important that the matter be
PROMPTLY disposed of, either by sanctioninE
and affirming the action Of the Land ottic'
or directing the patents to be issued withou
further requirement.
The quantity of land sold for cash durin!
the iscal year, was over 9!25o,ooo acres
and the receipts therefor $s,s2l,4l4. Th
total amount of lands disposed of is over SO
900 900 acres. He suggests necessity TO
further power being granted to the Com
missioner of Pensions 10 suspend and dimin
ish ard discontinue pensions when the rea
son for granting them has wholly or part
ally ceased. -.
The number of patents issued within tn
: wear will probably reach $500. The re
: port says that during the present admins
: tra,ion 81 Indian treaties have been nego
tiated 20 of which remain to be acted upo
by the Senate. By these treaties India
titles hayebeen extinguished to neariy IT'S
900 acres of Land. The aggregate none
considerationltherefor is $ll,ls4,23s.
;, The Indians within our borders are SUI
d posed to number about 100000. The pr,
cess of civilization among the Indians hi
: already been attended with the happiest r'
n suit, and gives promise of steady progre
D. in the amelioration of their physical ar
. moral condition.