The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-12-06

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| about $3.50, 600, as compared with the
fiscal year of 1860.
The deficiency in the department for
the previous year was 81 ,55l 900 49,. For
the last fiscal year it was reduced to e.,
1l2,81457. These favorable result Is are, in
fact, owing to the cessation OF mail con-
vcyance in the insurrec,ionary States, and
IN part to q casual review of all expendi
lures in that department, in the interest
of economy.
EFFIcIENcr-rosrAL CONVENTION.
The efficiency of the postal service it is
believed has also been much improved
The Postmaster General also opened
correspondence. through the Department
Of State with Foreign Governments, pre-
posing a convention of postal representa-
tives. for the purpose of simplifying the
rates Of foreign postage and to expedite
the foreign mails. This proposition, equally
important to our adopted citizens and to
the commercial interests of this country,
has been favorably entertained and agreed
to by all the Governments from whom re-
plies have been received. ask the atten-
ton Of Congress- to the suggestion of the
Postmaster General in his report, respect
ing the further legislation required, in his
opinion, for the benefit OF the postal
service.
DEPARTMENT CT THE INTERIOR.
The Seci etary of the Interior reports as
follows in regard to public lands:
The public lands have ceased to be
source Of revenue From the lst of July,
entire cash receipts from the sales of pub.
lie lands were $l37, AT Ga sum much
less than the expenses OF our land system
during the same period.
The homestead law, which will take
effect on the LIST of January next, offers
such inducements to settlers that sales for
cash cannot be expected to an extent suf.
ficient to meet the expenses of the general
land office, and cost of surveying and
bringing the land into market.
The discrepancy between the sums here
stated as arising from the sales of public
lands and the sums derived from the
same source as reported from the Treasury
Department arises as / understand, from
the fact that the periods of time, though
apparently, were not really coincident at
the beginning point. The Treasury re-
port includes considerable sum now
which had previously been reported from
the Interior sufficiently large to greatly
oyerreach the sum derived from the three
months now reported upon by the Inte-
rior, and not by the Treasury Department
THE INDIAN WAR
The Indian tribes upon our frontiers
have, during the past year, manifested q
spirit of characterization, and, at several
points, engaged in open hostilties against
the white settlers in their vicinity. The
tribes occupying the Indian country south
of Kansas renowned their allegiance to
the United States, and entered into
treaty with the insurgents. Those who
remained loyal to the United States were
driven from the country. The chief Of the
Cherokees has visited this city for the
purpose of restoring the former relations
of the tribe with the United States lie
alleges that they were constrained by supe-
rior force to enter into treaties with the
insurgents, and that the United States
neglected to furnish the protection which
their stipulation required.
MINNESOTA MASSACRE
Ia the month of Angus, last, the Sioux !.
Indians in Minnesota attacked the set /
Tiers in their vicinity with extreme ferocity.
killing indscrirninately men, women and
children. The attack was wholly unex- |
pected, and therefore no defense had been .
provided 1t is estimated that not less
than 500 persons were killed by the Indi-
ans, and large amount of property was
destroyed How this outbreak was Undue 4
ed Is not indefinitely known; and suspsc- /.
ions, which may be unjust, need not be /
stated
Information was received by the Indian .
Bureau from different sources, about the !
lime hostilities were commenced, that a
simultaneous attack was to be made upon
.he white settlements by all the tribes
10 he
Rocky Mountains. .
The State of Minnesota has suffered 4
great injury from the Indian war. A large
portion of her territory has been depopu-
ated, and a severe loss has been sustained
by the destruction of property. The peo-
Die of that State manifest much anxiety /
or the remolal of the tribes beyond the
limits of the Ssate, as a guarantee against
urther hostilities.
The Commission Of Indian Aff,irs will
furnish full details.
kRMoDELING OF INDIAN SYSTEM.
/ submit tor your special consideration
whether our Indian system shall not be re-
Many wise and good men have
been impressed with the belief that this
AN be proftably done.
PACIFIC RAILROAD AND THE SHIP CANALS
I submit statement Of the proceedings
IF the commissioners, which shows the
that las been made in the enter
'rise of constructing the Padifc Railroad
md thus suggests the earliest completion
IF the road, and also the favorable action
If Congress upon the project now pending
,efore them for enlarging the capacities of
he great canals In New York and Illinois,
IS being of vital and rapidly increasing
nj portance to the whole nation, and
specially to the vast interior region here
natter to be noticed at some greater
ength
l propose having prepared and laid
before you at an early day some interest
ng and valuable statistical information up
IN this subject. The military and COM
nercial importance Of eniarging the Hi
eis and Michigan Canal and improving
he Illinois Rriver, is presented in the
eport of Colonel Webster to the Secretary
f War, and now transmitted to Congress.
respectfully ask your attention to it.
ME AGRICULTURAL BUREAU
To carry out the provisions of the act Of
congress of the 18th of May last, have
aused the Department Of Agriculture of
he United States to be organized. The
infornnes NE that within the
'erod Of few months this department
las established an extensive system Of
and exchanges both at
lome and abroad, which promises to effect
highly beneficial results in the develop
nent of correct knowledge of recent
in agriculture in the intro
faction of new products, and in the collec.
ion of agricultural statistics of the differ
rat States; also, that it will soon be
prepared to distribute largely seeds, cereals,
,lants and cuttings and has already pub
ished and literally diffuse much valuable
In anticipation of more elaborate re-
,ort which in due time will he published,
m brac,ng some valuable tests in chemical {
cience now in progress in the laboratory,