The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-12-13
Department Reports.

The reports OF the heaas Oh INC sevcral
departments at Washington have been pub
lished, and are full of usefu! and highly in
terest facts and figures, showing the condi-
ton, prospects, and progress of our country.
They are, however, much too lengthy to
allow even far synopsis oi them IN our
columns. All we shall attempt is to con-
dense few Of the leading statements, refer
ring The reader to the reports themselves,
which will soon he circulated in sabs;an
tial form by members of Congress:
Treasury REroRr-The report is very
lengthy, and crcditabie TO Hr. GHE,giEs
abilities. The sun produced by the VARIOUS
revenues OF government during the fiscal
year ending 30th June, 1856, was less than
3,e1a, al nearly five millions OF dollars
over the Treasury estimate. OF this suu.
about sixty-four milliona were derived from
the customs. The expenditures Of the year
were S72,94s,792; of which Sl2, 9iS,792 |
went TO the redemption of the public debts,
which, after the addition Of two millions and /
ihrec-quar,ers on account of Texas, ainount- I
! ed, in 1852, to ST. ,s79,937, has noF been
reduced to the negfborhoOd Of thirty
millions.
Mr., t=uTuxIE estimates that forty-eight
m!lieEs-thc average of the public cxpeEdi-
lures for the last five years, exclusive of
payments on account OF the debt ani nlcm-
niiy to Mexico-wil. amply sutiit. 20 keep
the government going for the n. xt four years
to come. He goes on to recommend the ex-
tension Of the free list so as to admit ali ma
terals used in manufactures, aud especially
wool, free of duty. " it'll regard 10 iron and
steel, he seems to consider that oar present
laws are fair enough and es,iissslss that in
1S70the United States will sup,!s. all the
/ iron needed for their own cor suis,akon
\ considerable portion Of tbs report is de-
voted to the subject of currency and
finance. Mr. GUTHRIE gees no danger in the
continued export of specie. He estimates
that we have retained in the country $780,
G00,G0 Of Caifors i, gold.
Mr.. Guthrie finds his main tranL,e, az
heretofore, in devisine means to re,!Ice the
plethora OF the treasury. Allowing the
most liberal appropriations for the present
year, aud he will still have a balance in the
treasury at the end Of the year Of over s22,-
100000; and # the revenue laws arc not
materially changed, at the end OF tue next
fiscal year, tbs surplus il the treasury
must reach 81, O0G,0 600. How to ct ths
revenuc down to the actual wants OF the go
vernment is the problem.
GENERAL Posi- OFFfcE.-TEe Postmaster
Z General states that there were on the IL IA If
June, 1896, ., 800 po,trnasJers IN increase
il four years Of +,GGf At tie sam. t.ine
there we're in operation nearly 5000 mall
Routes, tie length of which IS ,sttugfed at
80, 6l2 miles, and costing &, 90 i1s lie
recommends the abolition Of thc frsnkin.
privilege, and compelling prepayment on
al transient printed matter.
He also states that negotiations are now
pending, with a view 10 the reduction Of the
transit charse on United States clos, mails.
and the rates Of postage betreen the United
State. and Great Britain to twelve rents
single letter. The revenue Of an. Scpar,-
ment is again some $500, 900 behind the
receipts. but hy adopting tie reforms sug-
ccsted lac has no doubt the department will
he able to sustain itself, without charging
the present rates Of postage.
IyTGHIoR DErARTrEST-Th uaaatitr Of
public lands sol during the year vas o.
22.,s.o acres, for which IS, 1920 AZ ,rere
= received. Much difficulty SIN e2sjsts IN cAe-
f cutting the swamp land grants SIX pew
surveying departments have bee.1 organized
in Nebraska, Kansas, Oregon, &C., ans! the
surveys are in rapid progress. The pa;en,
Office, from small beginnings. la. grown o
; gigantic proportions. 80 years ago single
clerk transacted all It's business, confined to
: p or 80 applications for the year. The
! number Of applica, ons the last year amount
= cd to over ). OOo-bcing greater than in any
: other country. Under direction Of congress,
5 the department has taken measures 10 pro-
{ cure cuttings and seeds from every quarter
F., Of the globe, whore any new product can he
e found which is likely to prove useful 20 any
r portion OF the United States.
5 Many new productions Of great probable
: utility have thus been introduced, and others
I are helm. sought for, wherever there is any
r prospect Of success. \ vessel has jus, been
1 sent to South America to procure cuttings
r from the sugar cane. to furnish our southern
planters with fresh stocks to supply the
4 place of that which it is supposed has Ietc
r rioratcd by continued cultivation, wtiou,
: renovation from the indigenous plant
, Cr-,prur C,r-Dr Eyfr-t tIa rarent