New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-07


of Congress at its last session ia respect 70 p2cs on
our inland waters. "a,
| 7 cord;oIIv concur in the recommendation OF tho
Secretary rs to the propriety OF creating the new
rank of Vice. Admiral in our Naval service. your
attention ia invited to the report Of tho Postmaster.
General for detailed account OF the operations ana
financial condition of the Post-OHice Department
The postal revenues for the year ending june ~
1861, amounted to Sl2, 1873 253 49, and tho expcnd'-
lures TO 81, G4.7s6 2O the excess OF expenditures
over receipts being s206G52 AZ.
The viows presented by the Postmaster-Gcnerh on
the subject of special grants by the Government IN
aid OF the establishment Of new lines OF ocean man
steamships and the policy he recommends for tie
Development of increased commercial intercourse
with adjacent and ncighboying countries, should
receive The careful consideration of Congress.
It's Of noteworthy interest that tho steady OK
pansiOn of population, improvement ana govern.
mental institutions over the new ana uhoccupled
portions OF our country have scarcely been checRed
much less impeded or destroyed by our great civil
war, wmcn, az first glance, would seem to have ab-
sorbed almost the entire energies of The nation.
The organization and admission Of the state OF
Nevada has been completed, in conformity with
law and thus our excellent system is firmly cStab-
lished 10 the mountains which once seemed bar
rem and uninhabitable waste between the Atlantic
states and those which have grown up OH the coast
of the Pacific ocean
The Territories of the Union are generally in
condition of prosperity and growth. Ideho and
Montana, by reason of their grces distance and the
interruption OF communication with them by
Indian hostilitics, have been only partially
organized: but il is understood that these diff
icultics are about to disappear, which VIII
permit their governments, like those at the
Others TO 60 into speedy and full operation.
As intimately connected with, and promotive Of this
material growth Of the nation, ask the attention
Of Congress to the valuable information and import
ant recommendations relating to the public iands;
Indian affairs, the Pacific Railroads, and mineral
discoveries contained IN the report OF the Secretary
Of tho Interior, which is herewith transmitted, and
which report also embraces the subjects of the pat
erts pensions, and other topics Of public interest
pertaining to his Department. Thequantityo OF public
land disposed of during the five quarters ending on
the 3Otn of September last was 4 22l ,3P acres,
of which ,53s,6ll acres were entered under the
Homestead law. The remainder was located with
military land warrants, agricultural scrip certified
10 States for railroads, and sold for cash. Inc cash
received from sales and location fees 81 Ol9 $40
The income from sales during the fiscal year ending
June 20, 1854 was $67S,00 81, against $i36O77 %
received during the preceding year. The aggregate
number of acres surveyed during the year has been
equal 10 the quantity disposed of ana theie Is open
TO settlement about 900 acres of surveyed
land.
TIE great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic
with the Pacific States By railways and telegraph
lines has been entered upon with vigor that gives
assurance of success, notwithstanding the cmbar-
easements arising from the prevailing high prices OF
materials and labor. The route Of tho main line OF
the road has been definitely located for 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
Sacramento eastward 10 the great bend OF Mucker
River i'll Nevada. Numerous discoveries of gold,
silver, end cinnabar mines have been added to the
many heretofore known, and the country occupied
by the Sierra Nevada. and Rocky Mountains, am
the subordinate ranges now teen with entcrprSing
labor which is richyrnuneratiye.
Ii is believed that the products OF the mlnes OF
precious metals in that region have during the year
reached if not exceeded Sl0O,OOO,OOO IN value. ~
was recommended in my last Annual Message that
our Indian system be remodeed. Congress at lis
last Session acting upon tfse recommendation, did
provide for reorganiziDg the system IN California,
ard il is believed that under the present organzs-
tion the management Of the Indians there WIZ be
attended with reasonable success. Muchyct remains
TO be done to provide for the proper government Of
the Indians III other parts Of the country TO render
il secure for the advancing settler and 10 provide
for the welfare of the Indian. The Secretary reter-
ates his recommendations and TO thGn the attention
Of Congress is invited.
The liberal provisions made by Congress for pay
ing pensions 10 invalid soldiers and sailors Of the
Republic, and 20 the widows, orphans and depend
ent mothers of those who have fallen in battle or
died OF disease contracted OF wounds received III
the service Of their country, have been diligently
admin 3. cred.
There have been added tn the pension rolls du-
ring the year ending the 3oth day of june last the
names Of 1910 invalid soldiers, and of 27l disa-
bled seaInen, making the present number OF army
invalid pensioners =, 767, and OF navy invalid pen-
sioncrs 7l2. OF widows, orphans and mothers, -,
1913 have been placed on the Armypension rolls, and
24s Oh the Navy rolls.
The present number Of Army pensioners OF this
class is rs. 4D, and OF Navy pensioners 793. At
the beginning OF the year the number Of rev
olutionary pensioners was l,i3V. Only Twelve OF
them were soldiers, of whom seven have since
died. The remainder are those who, under tho
lew receive pensions because OF relationship 10
revolutionary soldiers.
During the year ending the 30th of June, 1884,
$500 6i6 ~ have been paid 10 pensioners OF all
classes.
checrfullv commend 70 Your continued patron
age the benevolent institutions OF the District Of
Columbia which have hitherto been established or
fosered by Congress 0Dd respectfully refer for Ill
formation concerning them, and in relation to the
Washington Aquednct, the Capitol and othermattcrs
OF local interest 20 tho Report OF the Secretary.
The Agricultural Department, under the super
vision OF ts present energetic and faithful head is
radly commenting itself 10 the great and vital IN
terest it was created 10 advance. 1t is peculiarly
the Peoples Department, IN which they feel more
directly concerned than in any other. i commend
il 10 the continued attention and fostering care OF
Congress.
The war continues. Since the last annual mes
cage, all the important lines and positions then
occupied by.our forces have been maintained, and
our armies have steadily advanced, thus libcratng
the regions left in the rear, that Missouri, Ken
lucky Tennessee, and parts OF other States, have
again produced reasonably fair crops.
The most remarkable feature in the military op-
crations Of the year aGeneral Sherman's attempted
march of 800 miles directly through insurgent re-
gonS. II tends to show great increase Of our rca
tive strength that our Generalin-Chef should feel
able TO confront and hold in check every active
I1.<1a 20 tha nuo,nx and yef 10 defich "A we'll.