Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-12-16


Navy especially IN regard to a Navy Yard and suit
able establishment for the construction and repair
ofiron vessels and the machinery and arrnature for
our Ships to which reference is made in nv last an
nual message. Your attention is also invited to the
views expressed in the report in relation to the leg
isation OF Cyagress at It's last session in respect to
prizes on our inland waters. cordially concur in
the recommendation of the Secretary as to the pro
priety Of creating the rank Of Vice Admiral in
our naval service.
Your attention is invited to the Report Of the
Postmaster General for detailed account of the OPP
Grafton and financial condition Of the Post Office De-
partment. The postal revenues for the year ending
June 90, 1864, amounted to S12 43S 253 49, and the
expenditures to S12 G44, ,76S, 90 the excess of ex
pendltures over receipts being S206, ,652, A. The
views presented by the Postmaster General on the
subject OF special grants by the government IN aid
ofthe establishment Of new lines of ocean mail
steamships and the policy he recommends for the
development of increased commercial intercourse
with adjacent and neighboring countries, should
celve the careful consideration of Congress.
1t Is Of teworthy interest that the steady expan
sion of population, improvement and governmental
institutions over the new and unoccupied portions
OF our country have scarcely been checked, much
less lmpeded 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 the State of
Neveda has been completed in conformity with law,
and thus our excellent system is firmly established
In the mountains which once seemed barren and
unnhabitable waste between the Atlantic States and
those which have grown up on the coast Of the Pa
cihe ocean.
The Territories Of the Union 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 By In
dian hosnlties, have been only partially organized.
Butt is understood tho sc difficulties are about to
disappear, which viii permit their governments,
like those of the others to go into speedy and full
operation.
As intimately connected with and promotive of
this material growth of the nation ask the atten
ton OF Congress to the valuable information and i'm
portant recommendations relative to the Public
Lands, Indian Affairs, the Pacific Railroad and min
era discoveries, contained in the Report of the Sec
retary ofthe Interior, which is herewith transmitted
and which report also embraces the subjects of pat
ents pensions. and other matters of public interest
pertaining to his Department.
The quantity of public land disposed of during the
five quarters ending Both December last was 4,22l,
342, acres, of which I,538,614 acres we're entered
under the homestead law. The remainder was lo
Gated with military land warrants, agricultural scrip
certified to States for railroads and sold for cash..
The cash rdceiyed from sales and location fees was
Sl,019.446.
The income from sales during the fiscal year ending
June 80 1864, was S678, ,007, ,2l against S136,077
%. received during the proceeding year The az
has been equal to the quantity disposed of and there
is open to settlement about l33 600, coo acres Of sur
veyed land.
The great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic
with the Paoihc States BY railways and telegraph
lines has been entered on with Ygor that gives as
surance of success notwithstanding the embarrass-
ment arising from the prevailing high prices of ma
terials aud labor The route of the main line of the
road has been definitely located for one hundred
miles westward from the initial point at Omaha city,
Railroad OF California, has been made from Sacra-
mento to the great bend of the Tuckee river in Ne
veda.
Numerous discoveries of gold and silver, and Gin
nabar mines have been added to the many hereto
fore known, and the country occupied by the Sierra
Neyeda and Rocky Mountains and the subordinate
ranges now teens with enterprising labor, which is
richly remuneratiye. 1t Is believed that the product
of the mines of precious metals in that region has
during the year reached ifnot exceeded, one hun
dred millions in value.
1t was recommended in my last annual message
that our Indian system be remodelled. Congress at
Its last session, acting upon the recommendation,
did provide for reorganlzlng the system IN Califor-
MIA, and it is believed that under the present or
ganization the management of the Indians there will
be attended with reasonable success. Much yet re-
mains to be done to provide for the proper govern
ment Of the Indians in other parts Of the country
to render it for the advancing settler, and to
provide for the welfare of the Indian The Secreta
attention of Congress is invited.
The liberal provisions made by Congress for pay
ngp ensons to inyaded soldiers and sailors of the
Republic, and to the widows, orphans and dependant
mothers of those who have fallen in battle, died
of disease contracted or wounds received In the ser
vice Of the country have been diligently admins
tered.
There has been added to the pension rolls during
the year ending the 30th day of June last the nrmes
Of 10 re invalid soldiers and 27l disabled seameh
making the present number of army invalid pen
sioners 22T67 and Of navy invalid pensioners, 7I2
OF widows, orphans and mothers Y, lSs have been
placed on the army pension rolls, and 24S on the
navy rolls. The present number ofarmy pensioners
of this class is % 444 and of navy pensioners 793.
At the beginning of the year the number OF Revolu-
tonary pensioners was /, 1885,. Only twelve of them
were soldiers, of whom seven have since died. The
are those who under the laws receive pen
sions because of relationship to Revolutionary sol
diers. During the year ending the 30th of June
1864, S4 04616, ,92 have been paid to the pension
ers of all classes,
/ cheerfuIly recommend to your continued patron
age the benevolent institutions of the District of
Columbia, which have been established and fostered
by Congress- and respectfully refer for information
concerning them, and in relation to the Washington
Aqueduct, the Capitol and matters of local interest
to the Report of the Secretary.
The A Agricultural Department under the supervi-
sion of present energetic and faithful head is rap
idly commencing itself to the great and vital interest
it was created TO advance. 1T is particularly the
peoples department in which they feel more deeply
concerned than in any other. | commend it to the
continued attention and fostering care Of Congress
The war continues Since the last annual message
all the important lines and positions then occupied
by our forces have been maintained, and arms
have steadily advanced, thus liberating the regions
left in rear, % that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee
and parts of other States have again produced reas
onably fair crops.
The most remarkable feature in the military ope.
rations Of the year is General Sherman's attempted
march Of three hundred miles directly through the
insnrgent region. Ii tends to show great increase
in our relative strength, that GeneralinC Chief
should feel able TO confront and hold in check every
active force of the enemy, and yet to detaeh well
appointed large army, TO move on such an expedi-
ton. The result is net yet known, conjueture in
regard to It is not here indulged. M
Important movements have also occurred during
the year to the effect Of moulding society for dura
bility in the Union. Although short Of complete
success, il is much in the right direction that twelve