The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-12-29
Reports of the Departments

Reports of the Departments
Below we present brief abstracts of the
reports made by the different depart
ments to Congress on the first Monday of
December,
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
The fact is prominently set forth that
on and after the first day of July next, the
mails are to be conveyed between New
Orleans and Washington in three and
half days. The expenses of the depart
ment over and above the resources, have
regularly increased ever since the reduc
ton of postages; it would, however, be
obviously erroneous to suppose that this
charge upon the treasury is to progress in
a ratio propccrrtionate to what it has been
the last few years. Our postage system
is now extended over the whole country
from one ocean to the other. There
can be but little further expense resulting
from overland connexion with California,
except one other route commonly called
the North route. No other is now
thought of as likely to become neces-
sary.
The Postmaster General proposes in
lieu of franking privileges now allowed by
law to Members of Congress, that the Sec
retary of the Senate, or such other officer
as may be designated for the purpose, fur
nish the members with postage stamps
to be used on all letters, public documents,
&C., transmitted by them in the mails. and
keep an account of the stamps furnished
each member, to be paid for out of the
contingent fuDd of the House. All let
ters, &C., to Members of Congress to be
prepaid at mailing Offices. A uniform
rate of postage of Eve cents for al! distan-
ces is proposed.
On the 3Oth of June last there were
in operation eight thousand two hundred
and ninety-six mail routes, the length of
which is estimated at 260,603 miles, aud
cost $7,795, 4ls, being an addition Of 49,
OO2 miles to length of routes, and $l,773,-
372 to the cost in year. The total es-
Inmates for the current year are 81 c, 6l5,
947, and the total expenditures in the fis-
cal year ending June 30th $l2,722,479.
The estimates of receipts and expenditures
1859 exhibit deficiency of $685.
1877.
The Postmaster General says by the
time the contract lor the California lines
via Pauama and Tehuantepec expire, on
l. lat &c ,o1, hot he
: route by Lake Nicaragua will have been
re e-opened and in successful operation
4 This presents the question whether one
two, or three of these routes shall there
after be employed for mail purposes. TIE
, huantepec route is shortest and mos
readily protected, but it will be compare
lively new and the line of staging to-
; long. While it is destined no doubt Il
become transit of the first importanc
and will deserve the highest patronag'
and encouragement, still it cannot super
cede the necessity of one or more route
. through Central America,
1t is of the highest Importance that tn
route by Nicaragua should be re-opend
and its undsturbed use for the transpor
: tation of mails, passengers, troops and mu
!: nitions of war, secured by the solemn guar
n antee of public treaty. Without this, i
IT view of the unstable condition of the locs
: governments of Central America, the safe
ty and security of transportation can hard
y be relied on. AS calculated to furnis
n the requisite facilities of communion be
# tween Europe and the Southern and Sout
e Westert States, the projected lines betwee
Norfolk and England, and between Ne
y Orleans and Bordeaux, are among th
= most important ones to be established
;, The Postmaster General regards s
: highly important that the line of mai
u to Vera Cruz should be continued.
i REPORT OF SECRETARY OF THE INTERIoI
. The Secretary of the Interior submit
whether it would not be wise policy
8 pass general law reserving all auriferou
;, silver, ard cinabar mines from sale for I'll
u use and occupancy of the people of tn
United States, under such regulations &
J. Congress may prescribe, and leaving tho:
e lands containing copper, iron, and Goa
e subject to the ordinary laws of settlemer
: and sale for their Development. He IT
: commends Legislation with regard to tt
g public lands in Utah, to put the lane
surveyed in market aud thus enable I'll
present occupants to obtain titles to the
homes by the establishment of land offic
and the extention of the pre-emption Law
s to that Territory.
;, The Report of the Secretary of the II
terror indicates satisfactory state of a
e fairs in his Department. The income ,
J, the ensuing year from the sales of publ
u land is estimated ut S., 100000.
i The Secretary is opposed to the reno,
D al of the Indian tribes, and advocates tn
policy of assigning land to individual
J. among them without the power of aliens
:, tion. and of expending the money annuitie
VI for the public good instead of dividing
per capita as now.
: The income of the Patent Office for tn
three quarters ending in September, wa
III