Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-12-10


during the year, over and above all losses
by shipwrDck or In battle, Of S3 vessels,
l61 guns, and 2,427 tons. The total
number OF men at this time In the naval
Sc vice, Including officers, ia about 81 900.
There have been captured by the navy.
during the year. 324 vessels; and the
whole lumber OF naval captures, since hos.
TITLES commenced, is 1900, Of which 267
are steamers. The gross proceeds arising
from the sale Of condemned przs property,
thus far reported amounts to l4,396 $50,
81 A large amount Of such proceeds Is
still under adjucation and yet to be report
ed. The total expenditures Of the Navy
Department. Of every description, including
the cost OF he immense squdrons that
have been called Into existence from the
Al Of March, 1861, 10 the LIST Of Novem-
Der 1864, are $24S, ,641, ,262 35.
Your favorable considera ion is invited
TO the various recommendations Of the
Secretary of the Navy. especially in regard
to- Navy Yard, and suitable establish.
ment for the cous ruction and repair of
lion vessels aud the N chiuery and arma.
newt for our,ships, to which reference was
made in my last annual message. Your
attention is also invited TO the views ex.
pressed in the report in relation 10 the
Legislation Of Congress at its last session
in respect TO p-z $ on our INLAND waters.
l cordially concur in the Recommendation
OF the Secretary as to tae propriesy of ere.
a'iug the new rank 9. Vice All miral In our
Naval service.
POSTAL.
Ycnr attention is invited to the report
OF ,ne Postmaster General for a detailed
/ account Il the operations and financial con.
diton of the Post Ofi:e Department.
The postal revenues for tie year ending
June 30Lh amounted to $l2,43S, 253 78
and the expend tIres $l2 544,7S6 20 -
| The excess of expendi es over the re
ceipts being $2O6 ,652 AZ. The views pre-
sented by the Postmaster General on the
subject of special grants by The Govern
pent in aid Of the establishment of Otean
Mail Steamships. and the policy he RECON-
neuds for the development of increased
commercial intercourse with adjacent and
neghboriDg countries should receive the
careful consideration OF Congress.
GRuwrB OF THE NATION.
1t is OF noteworthy Interest thut the steady
expansion OF population, improvement and
| governmental institutions over the new and
unoccupied portions of our country, have
| scarcely been impeded, much less checked
or destroyed by our great civil war which
at the first glance would seem 10 have nb
sorted almost the entire energies of the
nation.
TERRITORIES
The organization aud admission OF the
State of Nevada has been completed in
conform ty with the law, and thus our x
ce'lent system Is firmly established in the
mountains which once seen eI barren aud
uniuhabiiable waste between the Atlantic
States and those which have grown up on
the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
The territories of the United States are
generally in condition of prosperity and
rapid rowlh. Idaho and Moutans, by
reason of their great distance. and the 10
terropting OF communication with them BY
Indain hostilies. have been only partially
organ zcd, but it is understood that these
difficulties are about to disappear, which
will permit their government, like those OF
Others, 10 go into speedy and full opera
lion as intimately connected with and pro
noting of this material growth of The IA
lion. .., M Fs
PACIFIC RAlLrAY.
l ask the attention Of congress to the |
valuable Information and importuut recon-
menda i,ns relating 10 the public lands,
and the Indian affairs, and the P,c flic rail.
o DIS mineral discoveries, can,aiued in Ihe
report of the Secretary OF The Iute. To-,
Which is herewith transmitted, aud which
report also embraces The sui jec,s of patents,
peusiols, and other topics Of public Interest
to his department..
PUBLIC LANDS.
The qnan.ily of public lands disposed Of
iorIDg the five quarters ending on he 30:h
,f September last. was ,22l ,342 acres, of
which 1856 acres were entered under
he homestead law. The remainder was
located with military land warra mis-, as
agricultural scrip, certified 10 states or
rairoa Is, and sold for cash. The cash re
ceIved from sales and location fees was
81 ,0lS, 500 The Income from sules during
the fiscal year ending June 30;h, 1864 was
$67 SOC. .72l against $l3 ,607, 705 received
ouiinS 'he P'eScu''R year. lne aBSreSale
of acres surveyed during the year has beeu
equal to the quantity disposed Of. and there
is open 10 settlement about l33. 600, 600
acres OF surveyed land.
TIE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The great enterprise of connecting the At
lantie with the Pacific States by railways and
telegraph lines has been entered upon with
vigor that gives assurance Of success. notwith-
standing the embsrrassments arising from the
prevailing high prices OF material and labor.
The route of The main line OF the road hrs
been definitely located for one hundred miles
westward from the initial point at Omaha City,
Nebraska, and q preliminary location Of the
Pacific railroad of California has been made
from Sacremtn:o eastward 10 the great bend
OF Mucker river, 10 Nevada.
OUR MINING RESOURCES.
Numerous discoveries Of gold. silver and
cinnabar mines have been added TO the many
heretofore known, and the country occupied
by he Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains
aud the subordinate ranges now teens with en-
terprising labor, which is richly romunerstive
1t is believed that the products OF the mines
of precious metals ia that region has. during
The year. reached if oot exceeded $l00, 100000
10 value.
THK INDIAN sysrEN
LII =. Ia A Il H.