Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-12-14

| suitable establishment for the construc-
: ton and repair OF iron vessels and the ma
chinery and armature for our ships to
which reference was made III my last an
nual message. Your attention is also invi-
ted to the views expressed III the report III
regard to the legislation Of Congress at Its
last session, III respect 10 prizes on our IN
land waters. [ cordially concur in the re-
commen1ation Of the Secretary as to the
propriety OF creating he rank Of Vice Ad-
miral in the naval service.
Your attention is invited to the report of
the Postmaster General for detailed ac-
count OF the operations and financial condi-
ton Of the Postoficc Department. The
Postal Revenues for the year ending June
30th, 1864, amounted to $l2, 43S, 253 IS,
and the expenditure TO Sl2, ,644, ll6 20.
The excess Of expenditures over receipts be
ing S206. .652 A. The views presented By
the Postmaster General on the subject Of
special grants by the Government IN AID Of
the establishment Of new lines OF ocean mail
steamships, and the policy he recommends
Ter the developemcnt Of increased CONNER
cIal intercourse with adjacent and neighbor
ing countries should receive the careful con
sideration o. Congress.
1t Is of noteworthy interest that the steady
expansion of population, Improvement and
SON ulIituidl lliSllitllBllS w u INC CN anu
unoccupIed portions of our country have
scarcely been checked, much less impeded or
destroyed, by our great civil war, which al
the first glance would seem 10 have absorb
ed almost the entire energies of the nation.
The organization and admission ot the
State OF Nevada has been completed IN con
formity with law and thus our excellent sy's-
TEN is firmly established IN the mountains,
which once seemed barren and inhabita-
bic 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 growth. Idaho and
Montana, by reason Of their great distance
and the interruption OF communication with
them 10y Indian hostilities, have been only
partially organized but it IS understood that
these difficulties are about 10 disappear,
which viii, permit their governments, like
those Of others, 10 go into speedy and iul!
operation.
As intimately connected with and promo
tive of this material growth of the nation,
ask the attention Of Congress to the valua-
ble information and important recommenda-
tons relating to the public lands, INDIAN at
fairs, the Pacific Railroads and mineral dis
coverieS contained in the report Of the Secre-
tary Of the Interior, which is herewith trans
subjects Of patents, pensions and other top
les of public interest pertaining to hls de
partment. The gu; nifty of public land dis
posed Of during the five quarters ending on
the Both Of September last was 1, 22l, 342
acres of which , ,53S, GA acres We're entered
under the Homestead law The remainder
was located with IL ilitary land warrants
agricultural scrip certified to States for rail
roads, and sold for cash. The cash received
from sales and location fees was l,0l6,446
The income from sales during the fiscal
year ending June 30th, 1S64.w was $6TS, ,001,
2i, against 81 300 % received during the
preceding year. The aggregate OF acres
surveyed during Che year has been equal to
the quantity disposed Of aud there is open
to settlement about I33, 900, 900 acres of
surveyed land.
The 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 emhauassments aris
ing trom the prevailing high prices OF ma
terial and labor The route OF the main line
of road has been definateiy located tor one
hundred miles westward from the initial
point at Omaha City, Nebraska, and pre-
liminary location of the Pacific Railroad OF
California has been made from Sacramento
cdSINdIu 10 the tIGdt iDCht vi II uChCi NV
er, in Nevada Numerous discoveries Of
gold. silver and cinnibar mines have been
added to the many heretofore known, and
the country occupied by the Sierra Nevada
and the Rocky mountains and the subOrdI-
nate ranges now teens with enterprlslng Ia
Dor which Is richly remunerative. 1t Is
believed that the products OF the mines OF
rich metals in that region has during the
year reached, if not exceeded $lO0, 600, 600
In value.
1t was recommended in my last annual
message that our Indian system be remodel
ed. Congress, at its last session, acting up
on the recommendation, did provide for re-
organizing the system in California, and 1t
Is believed that under the present orgaDlZa-
ton the management OF the Indians there
will be attended with reasonable success.
Much vet remains to be done to provide for
the proper government Of the Indians IN
other parts of the country, 10 render 1t Sc
cure for the advancing settler, and TO pro-
vide for the welfare OF the Indian. The
Secretary r6iterates his recommendations,
and 10 them the attention OF Congress Il
invited
The liberal provisions TO invalid soldiers
and sailors of the Republic, and to the wild
ows. orphans, and dependant mothers OF
those who have fallen in battle, or died Of
diseases contracted or of wounds received
in the service of their country, have been
diligently administered There has been
added to the pension rolls during the year
ending the 30th day Of June last, the names
of Is, 10 invalid soldiers, and of 27l disabled
seamen, making the present number Of ar
my invalid pensioners ,76., and of navy
invalid pensioners I, ,l2l and that OF widows,
orphans and mothers D. 1873 have been placed
on the army pension rolls, and 24S on the
rnIs The nnnn lfs1. of army rensinnerS