Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-16
Reports of the Heads of Departments.


The Secretary of War, in his report, says
the authorized strength of the army as posted
is Is, l65, but the actual strength on July lSt,
was ,499. These troops compose the whole
numerical force of our army, distributed through
the States and Territories Of the entire con-
federacy, manning all the fOrtiicatons Occu-
pied by troops, holding all the posts now gar
rsoned, defending all our extended frontiers
md protecting as far as possible, the different
routes extending across the continent from the
Mississippi valley to our possessions on the
Pacific
The Secretary of the Interior says that un-
der the various acts of Congress of lS47, 80
and '55, there have been issued SIG, 75S bOun-
ty land warrants, requiring 55,73l, 1876 acres
of the public domain to satisfy them. OF these
4l6, ,G32 had been located to the 30th Sept
ember last on A, 238, 030 acres of land, leay-
ing outstanding 100, 1876 warrants, calling for
100, ,493, $50 acres of land.
The Commissioner of the General Land Of
flee reports that during period of five quar-
terS, ending September 80, 1858, there were
surveyed of the public lands Is, 209,3 376 acres,
which, with former surveys, make quantity
of 81 ,95l, O56 acres OF public lands surveyed
and ready for market on the 30th September,
1853, which had never been offered at public
sale During the same period there were sold
for cash 4,804,9l9 acres, from which s., ,534,
1872 were realized. Located with military land
warrants 6.9S3, 10, and reported under the
Swamp-land grants, ,40l ,565 making an az
gregate Of cash land sales, land warrants, To-
cations, and swamp selections of Is, ,lS3, ,594.
The Postmaster Generals report states that
tl,o -l,,1o If off on tbn
of June last, was 21,9TT, of which 400 are of
the class denominated Presidential whole
number established during the last fiscal year,
2,l2l number discontinued, 80; increase
1891 number Of postmasters appointed s, 2S4
OF these 1896 were to fill vacancies occasion
ed by resignation, 99S by removals, 27S by
death, 292 by change of names and sites, and
2,l21 on establishment OF new Offices Whole
number of Offices, Dec. l, 1858, 2S,573. On
the 30th Of June last, there were in operation
1926 mail routes The number of contractors
was 7,044. The length of these routes is eSti-
mated at 260,60 miles total amount of
transportation 7S,7G5, ,49l miles, and cost ST.
795, AIS. Compared with the services report
ed 30th June, 1857, there is an addition of
1902 miles to the length Of the routes, and
81, ,212 to the cost The total estimates
for the current year are $l0,6l5,9 ,947. The
total expenditures of the department in the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1858, amounted to
$I2, 1872 40 The estimate Of receipts and
expenditures in 1859; expenditures $I4,776,-
$50; means, $lI,O94, 1893 deficiency, $3,-
GS3, ,l27.
The Secretary Of the Navy recommends an
increase Of strength in that arm of the public
service
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs states
that the whole number of Indians within our
limits are estimated at about $50, 900 The
whole number Of tribes and separate bands is
l75, with A of which we have treaty engage
ments. The number of ratified treaties, since
the adoption Of the Constitution is 393, nearly
all of which contain provisions still in force
The quantity of land acquired by these treaties
is about 58l l63, lSS acres The entire cost of
fulfilling these treaties will be $49,SI6,-
344. From part of these lands lands the
Government received no pecuniary advantages
because they were ceded to the respective
States within whose limits they were situated
From those sold, tho Federal Treasury re-
ceived not only the whole expense incurred for
their acquisition, survey and sale, but surplus
of at least $I0O, 900 000
The Secretary of the Treasury reports the
total receipts from all sources for the last fs-
cal year at so, 273,S69 SO, and the expcndi-
lures $Sl, ,585,66 &c.