Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1864-12-13
Presidents Message. Concluded


Dumber of naval captures since has'ilitiet
commenced, is 1879; of which 267 are
steamers. The gross proceeds arising from
the sale Of condemned prize property thus
reported, amount to Sli, 1896, ,250 81. A
large amount of such proceeds is still un'
der adjudication, and yet to be reported.
The total expenditures of the Navy De-
partment, of every description, including
the cost Of the immense squadrons that
have been c.led into existence from the
4,h of March, 1861, to the lst of Novem
Der. 1861, are S23S GI7 ,2623 So.
Your favorable consideration is invited
to the various recommendations OF the
Secretary of the Navy, especially in re-
gard to navy yard and suitable estab-
lishment for the construction and repair
Of iron vessels, aud the machinery and
armature for our ships, to which reference
was made in my las; annual Message. Go
Your attention is also invited to the
views expressed in the report, in relation
to the legislation of Congress, at its last
session. in respect to prizes in our inland
waters.
cordially concur in the recommends
tlon of the Secretary, as to the proprlcty
Of creating the new rank Of Vice Admiral
in our naval service.
Your attention is invited to the repor,
of the Postmaster General for a detailed
account of the operations and financial
condition of the Post Office Department.
The postal revenue for the year ending
June 80, 1864, amounted to sl2, ,43S 253.-
IS, aud the expenditures TO ST., ,G44 1856
20; the excess of expenditures over re-
ceipts being S206, 652.42.
The views presented by the Postmaster
General on the subject of special grants
by the Government in aid of the estab.
lishmcnt of new lines of ocean mail steam
ships, and the policy he recommends for
the developemcnt of increased commercial
intercourse with adjacent and eighhoring
countries, should receive the careful con
sideration Of Congress.
1t is of noteworthy interest, that the
steady expansion of population, improve
mcnf, and governmental institutions over
the new and unoccupiei portions of our
territory, have scarcely been checked,
much less impeded or destroyed by our
great civil war, which, at the 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 law, and thus our excel
lent system is firmly established in the
mountains, which we're once deemed bar
ren and uninhabitable waste, between tho
Atlantic States and those which havo
grown up on the Pacific ocean.
The territories of the Union are geDeT-
ally in a condition Of prosperity and rapid
growth.
Idaho and Montana, BY reason of their
great distance, and tho interruption of
communications with them by Indian
hostlities, have been only partially organ
lied, but it is understood that these diff
cul,ies are about to disappear, which will
permit their governments, like those Of
the others, to 60 into speedy and full
operation.
As intimately connected with and pro-
motive of this material growth Of the
nation, ask the attention of Congress to
the valuable information aud important
Recommendations relating TO the public
lauds, Indian affairs, the Pacific Railroad,
and mineral discoveries, contained in the
report of the Secretary of the Interior,
which is herewith transmitted. aud which
report also embraces the subjects Of pat
ents, pensions and other topics Of public
interest pertaining to his Department.
The quantity of public lands disposed
of during the five quarters ending on the
30th of September last, was 4,22l ,342
acres, of which 1888, ,6l4 acres we're
entered under the Homestead Law. The
remainder was located with military land
warrants, agricultural scrip, certified to
States for railroads, and sold for cash.
The cash received from sales and location
fees, was Sl,0l9,446.
The income from sales during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1861, was $685.
007 81, against Si36, OF 95 received dur
ing the preceding year. The aggregate
number of acres surveyed during the year
has been equal to the quantity disposed
of, and there is open to settlement about
1873 900, ,00G acres Of surveyed land.
The great enterprise of connecting the
Atlantic with the Pacific States by rail-
ways and telegraph lines, has been entered
upon, with a vigor that gives assurance of
success, notwithstanding the embarrass-
ments arising from the prevailing high
prices Of materials and labor. The route
of the main line of the road has been def
ini,ely located for one hundred miles
westward from the initial point at Omaha
City, Nebraska, and preliminary location
of the Pacific Railroad of California has
been made from Sacramento eastward to
the Great Bend of the Trout River in
Nevada.
Numerous discoveries Of gold, silver
and cHabar mines have been added to the
many heretofore known, and the country
occupied by the Sierra Nevada and Rocky
Mountains and the subordinate ranges
now teen with en,erprisipg labor which is
richly remunerative. 1t is believed that
the product of the mines of precious met.
ais, in that region, has, during the year,
reached if not exceeded one hundred mil