Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-12-15

cemlsr, 1864, shows total of six hundret
and scventy-ohe vessels, carrying foar thous
and six hundred and ten guns. and Of 5iO,
396 tons, being all actual Increase during til,
year, over and above all losses by shipwrecl
or in battle, of 33 vessels, 1877 guns ant
4 ,247 tons.
The total number Of nien at this time in tn,
navel service, including officers, is about fifty
one thousand. There have been captured BY
the navy during the year three hundred ant
twcnty-four vessels. and the whole humber
of naval captures since hostilities commented
is thirteen hundred and seventy mine, of which
two hundred and sixty-seven are steamers.
The gross proceeds Arising from the sale o
condemned prize property, thus fat reported
amount to $l4, 1896, ,25O,5l. A large amoun
OF such proceeds is still under adjudication
and yet to be reported. Ths total expcndi
turc Of tho Navy Department. Of every do
scription. including the cost Of tho mmcns,
squadrons that have been called into existence
since the fourth day of March, 1861. to the
first day of November 1861 are $23s,647., ;,
262,35.
Your favorable consideration is invited tc
the various recommendations Of Me Secretary
Of the Navy, especially in regard to Navy
Yard and suitable establishment for the con.
struction and repair Of iron vosscls, and the
machinery and armaturo for our ships Il
which reference is made in my last annual
message Your attention is also invited tc
the views in the report in re alton to the leg.
islation OF Congress at its Rsl session in re-
spcct to prizes on our inland waters cord
f! tally concur in the recommendation of he
Secretary as to the proprcty Of creating tie
new rank of Vice Admiral in our naval ser,
vie,
| Your attention is invited to the Repbft Of
the Postmaster General for detailed account
of the operation and financial condition of the
Post-oilicc Department. Tie postal revenues
for the year ending June 80, 1864, amounted
to Sl2,43s. 253.77, and the expenditures tc
S12,G44, ,7Gs.20. the excess Of expenditure.
over receipts kging soO6, ,65e 4D The view.
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 rec
ommcnds for the development OF increased
commercial Intercourse with adjacent and
neighboring countries, should receive the
careful consideration of Congress.
1t is of note worthy interest that the steady
expansion Of population, Improvement and
governmental institutions over the new and
unoccupied portions of our 0untpS have
scarcely been checked, much he's impedea or
destroyed, by our great civil war. which at
first glance would seem to have absorbed al
most the entire cnore 10: of the ration.
The organization and admissiun of the State
of Nevada has been completed III conformity
with law, and thus our excellent system is
firmly established in ths mouatains which
once seemed barren and uninh abitable waste
between the Atlantic States and those which
have grown up on the coast Of the Pacific
ocean.
The Territories of the Union are generally
in a condition of prosperity and rapid grow th!
Idaho and Moatana, by heir sfsat l'otancc
and the interruption of commuhica.;dti with
them by Indian hostilitios, have been Only
partially organized. But it il understood
these difficulties are about TO disappcar, which
will permit thgir govefthient, like those of
the o,hcrs, II 50 into speedy and full opera
tion.
As intimately connected with and promo
tive of this material growth Of tho nation, l
ask the attention of Congress to the valuable
information and important recommendations
relative to the Public Lands, Indian Affairs
the Pacific Railroad and mineral discoveries
contained in the Report Of the Secretary Of
the inlefior, which is herewith transmitted.
and which report also embraces tho subjects Of
patents, pensions, and other matters Of public
interest pertaining to his Department.
The quantity of public land disposed of
during the FIVE quarters ending 3Oth Decem-
Der last was 4 ,221 .342 acres. of which ,538,-
OH acres were entered under the Homestead
law. The remainder was located with mill
tary land warrants, agricultural scrip certified
to States for railroads and sold for cash. The
cash received from sales and location foes YVES
81 ,019,4i6.
The income from sales during the fiscal year
ending June 80. 1864, was $67S.0O7.2l,
against sl36, ,O77.95 received during the pre-
ccding 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 133, 100000 acres Of Sur
veycd land.
The great enterprise Of connecting tho At
lantc with the Pacific States by railways and
telegraph lines has been entered upon with a
vigor that gives assurance of success, sctwith-
standing the embarrassment arising from the
prevailing high prices of materials and labor.
The route of the msin line of the road has
been definitely located for one hundred miles
westward from the initial point az Omshs city,
Nebraska, and preliminary location Of the
Pacific Railrosd of California has been made