Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1857-12-18


Experience has proved that the routes across
the isihmus Of Central America are a. best but
very uncertain and unreliable mode of COM
lnuneation. But even if this were not the
case, they would at once be closed against us
! in The event OF war with naval power so mGeh
stronger than our own as TO enable it 10 block
I ade the ports at either end of these routes.-
/ After all, therefore, We can only rely Upop a
military road through our own territories, and
ever since tho origin of the government Con-
gress has been in the practice Of approp7iatiug
money from the public treasury for the con-
struction of such roads.
TIE difficulties aud the expense of construct
| ing military railroad to connect our Atlantic
and Pacific States have teen greatly exaggera-
ted. The distance ON The Arizona route near
| the 32d parallel Of north latitude, between the
western boundary of Texas oE the Rio Grande
and the eastern boundary of California on the
Colorado, from the best explorations now With
in our knowledge, does not exceed four hun
dred and seventy miles, and the face OF the
country is, in the main favorable. For 'o52i-
Gus reasons the government ought not TO under
! take work itself by means of its own agents.
This ought to be committed to other agencies,
: which Congress might assist either by granta
of land or money, or by both, upon such terms
and conditions as they may deem most beneh-
cal for the country. Provision might thus be
made not ouly for the safe, rapid, and econom-
ical transportation of troops and munitions O.
war, but also of the prble mails. The eop-
mercial interests of the whole country, both
East and West, would be greatly promoted By
- -o,l. and ahora MI AZ tvo,,Id ha ,cn,
erful additional bond OF union. And although
advantages of this kind, whether postal, com
mercial or political, cannot confer constitution
al power, yet they may furnish auxiliary argu-
menss in favor of expedhing work which, in
my Judgment, is clearly embraced within the
war making power.
For these reasons | commend to the friendly
consideration of Congress the subject Of the
Pacific railroad, without finally committing
myself to any particular rontt.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
will furnish detailed statement of the condi-
tion of the public finances and of the respective
branches of the public service devolved upon
that department of the government. BY this
report it appears that the amount of revenue
received from all sources into the treasury du-
1857, was sixty-eight million six hundred and
thirty one thousand five hundred and thirteen
dollars aud Sixty-seven cents, 1868 ,63l ,5I3
6S,l which amount, with the balance of niue
teen million nine hundred and one thousand
three hundred and twenty-five dollars and for
,y-6ve cents, tS19,90l, 1875 49, remaining in
the tzeasury at the commencement of the year,
made ar aggregate for the service of the year
of eighty-elght million five hundred and thirty
two thousand eight hundred aud thirty-nine
dollars and twelve cents, 1888, 8,532, ,S39 Il J
The public expenditures tor the fiscal year
ending 30th June, 1891, amounted 10 seventy
million eight hundred and twenty-five thous
and seven hundred and twenty-fouI dollars
and eighty-fve cents. 1910, 49,, ,724 $751; of
which FIVE million nine hundred and forty three
thousand eight hundred and ninety-sx dollars
and ninety-onc cents ($5, ,943,S96 9l) were
applied to the redemption of the public debt,
including interest and premium, leaving in the
treasury at the commencement of the present
fiscal year on the lst July, 1857, seventeen
million seven hundred and ten thousand one
huudred and fourteen dollars and twenty-seven
cents, tS17,7l0,114 27.l
The receipts into the treasury for the FIRST
quarter of the present fiscal yeai, commencing
1st July, 1857, were twenty million niue hun
dIed and twenty-nine thousand eight hundred
and nineteen dollars and eighty-one cents,
1870, 0,929,S19 Sl,j and the estimated receipts
of the remaining tbree quarters to the Both
June, 1858, are thirty-six million seven hun
ired and fftv thousand dollars, 1886, $50 ,000l
making with the balance before stated an az
gregate of seventy-fve million three hundred
and eghty-nine thousand nine hundred aud
thirty four dollars and eight cents, 1915, $780,
934 0S,) for the service of the present fiscal
year.
The actual expenditures during the first
quarter Of the present fiscal year were twenty
three million seven hundred and fourteen
thousand FIVE hundred and twenty-eight doll
lars and and thirty-seven cents, (23,7l4,52S
81 of which three million eight hundred aud
ninety FIVE thousand two hundred aud thirty
two dollars and thirty-nine cents (S3,S95, ,232
59) were applied to the redemption of the pub
lie debt, including interest and premium. The
probable expenditures OF the remaining three
quarters, to 30th June, 1858, are fifty-oue
million two hundred and forty-eight thousand
five hundred and thirty dollars and four cerfs
(S5l,24S, $50 04 ~ including interest on the
public debt, making an aggregate of seventy
four million nine hundred and six:y-three
thousand ffty-eight dollars aud forty,sne cents
1874, ,963,05S AL leaving an estimated bal
ance in the treasury at the close qf the present
fiscal year of four hundred and tweuty-six
thousand eight hundred aud seyenty-five dol
lars and sixty-seven cents, tS426,o75 CD
The amount of The public debt at the COM
meDccment of the present fiscal year was twenty
nine millions sixty thousand three hundred and
eighty-six dollars and ninety cents (S29, 060,-
$50 90.)
The amount redeemed since the last of July
was three million eight hundred and ninety
five thousand two hundred aud thirty-two dollars
aud thirty nine cents (S3,S95, ,232 39)-leaving
a balance unredeemed at the time of twenty
i've million one hundred and sixty-ive thousand
one hundred and fifty-four dollars and fifty
one cents St25, 165, l54 51.)
The amount of estimated expenditures for