American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-12-14
BUTLER BUTLER COUNTY Pa WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER a. 1864.

The views presen ted by the Postmaster
General on the subject of special grants
by the Government in aid of the estab-
lishment of new lines of ocean mail
steamships, and the policy he recommend
ed for the development Of increased COM
mercial intercourse with adjacent and
neighboring countries should receive the
careful consideration of Congress. 1t is
of noteworthy interest that the steady
expansion of population, improvement
and governmental institutions over the
new and unoccupied portions ofour coun-
try have scarcely been checked, much
less impeded or destroyed, by our great
civil war which, at first glance, would
seem to have absorbed almost the entire
energies Of the nation.
The organization and admission of the
State OF Nevada has been completed in
conformity with the law, and thus our ex-
cellent system is firmly established in the
mountains which once seemed barren
and uninhabitable waste, between the
Atlantic States and those which have
grown up on the coast of the Pacific
Ocean.
The territories of the United Statss are
generally in condition Of prosperity and
rapid growth. Idaho and Montana, by
reason Of their great distance and the in
terruption Of communication with them
by Indian hostilities, have been only par
TALLY organized; but it is understood
that these difficulties are about to disap-
pear which will permit their governments,
like those of others, to 60 into speedy
and full operation, as intimately connec-
ted with, aud promotive Of this maternal
growth of the nation.
ask the attention Of Congress to the
valuable information and important rec
concentrations relating 10 the public lands
and Indian affairs, the Pacific Railroad,
and mineral discoveries contained in the
Report Of the Secretary Of the Interior,
which is herewith transmitted, and which
report also embraces the subject OF pat
ents, pensions and other topics Of public
interest pertaining to his department,
The quantity of public land disposed
of during the FIVE quarters ending on the
Both Of September last, was l,22l ,342
acres, Of which | ,538, 8,614 acres were en-
tered under the Homestead law. The
remainder was located with military land
warrants and agricultural scrip certified
to by the State for railroads and sold for
cash.
The cash received from sales and loca-
ton fees was S1,019,445. The income
from sales during the fiscal year ending
june Both, 1864, was s67 800, 72l against
s13, ,GO7 1856 received during the proceed
ing year.
The aggregate Of acres surveyed du-
ring the year has been equal to the guam
tity disposed of, and there is open to set
tlement about 1873 100000 acres Of sur
veyed land The great enterprise Of con-
Meeting the Atlantic with the Pacific
States by railways and telegraph lines has
been entered upon with yigor that gives
assurance of success, Notwithstanding the
embarrassment. arising from the prevail
ing high prices of material and labor.
The liberal provisions to invalid sold
iers and sailors of the Republic, and to
the widows aud orphans and dependent
mothers of those who have fallen in bat
tie or died Of diseases contracted, or Of
wounds received in the service Of their
country, have been diligently admins
tered.
The route of the road has been def
nitely located for one hundred miles
W eSIWdFu from the lIllldi pulHtaJ Clhdhd
city, Nebraska and a preliminary location
of the Pacific Railroad Of California has
been made from Sacramento Eastward to
the Great Bend of Mucker River in Ne
vala. Numerous discoveries of gold
silver and cinnabar mines, have been ad-
ded 10 the many heretofore known, and
the country occupied by the Sierra Neya-
da and Rocky Mountains, and the subor-
dinate ranges, now teens with enterpri-
sing labor which is richly remunerated
tits believed that the products of the
mines of precious metals in that region,
has during the year reached, if not ex-
ceeding slO0, 100000 in value.
1t was recommended in my last annual
message, that our Indian system be re.
modelled. Congress at its last session
acting upon the recommendation, did pro
vide for reorganizing the system in Cali
fornia, and it is believed that under the
present organization the management o
the Indians there will beattended with
| reasonable success Much vet rer0 Inns Il