The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-12-15
The report of the Secretary of the N,yv /

presents d comprehensive and satisfactory
exhibit 0I the affairs Of that Department.
and Of the naval service. It is a suliect
Of 'ougratulation and laudabc pride to
our countrymen, that a Navy o., such
vast proportions has been organized in 50
brief period, and conducted with 50 much
efficiency and success. The general cx-
hibit Of the Navy. including vessels under
construction on the first Of December.
1864. shows a total of 67l vessels. carry
ing 4,6lO guns, and 5l0,3J tons, being
an actual increase during the ycm, over
and above all losses, Ey shipwreck or in
battle, OF So vessels, l67 guns. and u.
427 tons The total number OF men at
this time in the naval service. including
officers, is about ii ,0C0. There have been
captured by the nlvy during the year
33:2,4 vessels, and the whole number Of na.
val captures since hostilities commenced
is 500, OF which o. steamers. The
gross proceeds arising from the sale Of
condemned prize property, thus far repor-
te !, amountS 10 Sl4.39G. 0,5l. 4 large
amount Of such proceeds is still under
adjudication and vet to be reported. The
total expenditures Of the Navy Depart
ment, OF every description, including the
cost Of the immense squadrons that have
been called into existence from the 4th Of
March, 1861, to the lst of November.
1864, are S23S, ,647 ,262,35 Your favora-
lie consideration IS invited to the various
recommendations Of the Secretary ot the
Navy. especially in regard 10 a navy yard
and u suitable establishment for the con.
struction and repair Of iron vessels and
the machinery and armaturc Tor our ships.
10 which reference was made in Dly last
annual message Your attention is also
invited to the views expressed in the r.
port in relation to tbs legislation of Con-
grcss at the last session in respect to prizes
in our inland waters. l cordially concur
IN the recommendation OF the Secretary as
to the propriety OF creating the new rank
Of Vice admiral in our naval service.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Your attention is invited to the report
Of the Postmaster General for q detailed
account Of the operations and fnancia
condition of the Post Office Department
The postal revenues for the wear ending
June 3Vth, 1851, amounted to Sl2 ,43S
253, : and the expenditures 10. S12 ,644 :
1920. The excess OF expenditures over
rece' pts being S2oG, G52 40 TIE view
presented by the Postmaster General o.,
the subject Of special grants By the Gov
ernment in aid o. the establishment o
new lines of ocean mail steamships and
the policy he recommends ior the develop
mcnt Of increased commercial intercourse
with adjacent and neighboriug countries
should receive the careful consideration
Of Congress.
THE NEW STATE.
It is Of noteworthy interest that the
steady expansion Of population, improve
ment in Governmental institutions over
the new and uncecunicd portions Of our
country have scarcely been checked, mucl
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 thC
State of Nevada has been completed, in
conformity with the laws. and thus oul
excellent system Is firmly established IN
the mountains which once seemed 4 barren
and uninhabited waste, between the At
lantic States and those which have GROVE
up on the coast OF the Pacific Ocean.
THE TERRITORIES.
The Territories of the United Sta,et
are generally in a condition of prosperit,
and rapid growth. Idaho and Montana
by reason Of their great distance and til,
intcrception Of communication with then
by Indian hostlities. have been only par
TALLY organized, b 1t it is understood thai
these difficulties are about to disappear
which will permit their Governments Ike
those OF others. to 60 into speedy and ful
operation.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
As intimately connected with and pro
motive Of this material grown Of the nation
| ask the attention Of CrongresS TO ih,
valuable information and important rec
concentrations relating to the public lands
| Indi N affairs, the Pacific Railroad, anC
mineral discoveries contained In the re-
port of the Secretary of the Interior
which is herewith transmitted, and whlcl
report also embraces the subjects ofpatents
pensions, and other topics Of public ntcres
pertaining to his Department.
The quantity ofpublc land disposed 0
during the five quarters ending on the 50tl
of September last, was i 4.22l, ,3l2 acres, OF
which .536 GA acres were entered un-
der the Homestead law. The remandc
was located with military warrants an,
/ agricultural scrip certified 10 States fol
railroads and sold for cash. The cash re
ceipts from sales and location fees wer
/ S1,019, ,446 The income from sales du
ring the fiscal year ending june seth
1864, was S91 ,SoO'12l, against s63 607
195 receipts during the preceding yeai
The aggregate Of acres surveyed durin
the year has been equal 10 the quantit
disposed OF and there isoptn to setilen.cn
, about l33 GOO 900 acres of surveyed lane
: PACIFIC RAILROAD.
= The great enterprise of connecting tn
.Atlantic with the Pacific by railroad an
telegraph lines has been entered upo
with Il Vigor that gives assurance of success
, Notwithstanding the embarrasmcnts ari
sing from the prevailing high prices ,