The weekly union record., 1864-12-17

credit, and protecI the people against losses in
tie use of paper money. Whether or not any
further legislation is advisable fer the suppress
sion OF State bank issues it will be for Congress
10 determine 1t seems quite clear that the
treasury cannot be satisfactorily conducted un-
less the Government can exercise 8 restraining
power over the bank note circulation OF the
country.
The WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Secretary OF War and The
accompanying documents, will detail The cam.
paigns of the armies in the field since the date
of the last annual message, and also the opera
tions Of the several administrative bureaus Of
the War Department during the last year. Il
will also specify the measures deemed essential
Tor the national defei.se, and 10 keep aud to
supply the requisite military force.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Tie report Of the Secretary Of the Navy
presents comprehensive and satisfactory ex-
hibit of the affairs of that Department and Of
the naval service. 1t is subject of congratu-
lation and audable pride 10 our countrymeu
that navy of such vast proportions has been
organized 10 so brief period and conducted
with so much efficiency and success. The
general.exhibit Of the navy. including vessels
1864. shows total of 61l vessels, carrying
4,6l0 guns, aud having tonnage of 5l0396-
being au actual increase, during the year, over
aud above all losses by shipwreck or in battle
OF S3 vessels, 100 guDs and 42,421 tons. The
total number of men at this time 10 the naval
service, including officers, is about 81 900.
There have been captured by the navy, during
the year, 32i vessels, and The whole lumber of
naval captures since hostiliiles commenced is
1900, of which 261 are steamers. The gross
proceeds a1ising from the sale of condemned
prize property thus far reported amounts TO
Sl4 ,396, ,250.5l. \ large amount Of such
proceeds is still under adjudication and yet to
be reported. The total expenditures of the
Navy Department. of every description includ
ing the cost of the immense squadsons that
have been called into existence, from the 4th
of March, 1861. to the lst of November. 1864,
are 1886. .612 623 so. Your favorable cousid
Grafton is invited 10 the various recommenda-
iious of the Secretary OF the Navy, especially
in regard TO navy yard and a suitable estab
lishment for the construction and repair OF iron
vessels and the machinery and armature for our
ships. to which reference was made in my last
annual message. Ioar attention is also invited
10 the views expressed in the report in relation
TO the legislation of Congress at the last session
in respect to prizes in our inland waters.
cordially concur in the recommendation of the
Secretary as to the propriety of creating the
new rank OF Vice Admiral 10 the naval service.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
Your attention is invited TO the Report of
the Postmaster General for detailed account
# the operations aud the financial condition of
the Post Office Department. The postal reve,
uues for the year ending June 30, 1864,
amounted to Sl243S. .203.7e, and the expendi
lures TO Sl2,644, ,7S6 .20-the excess of expend-
itures over the receipts being S206, 6,652.42.
The views presented by he Postmaster General
on the subject of special grants by the Govern
ment in aid of the establishment of new lines of
ocean steamships and the policy he recommends
for the development of increased commercial
intercourse with adjacent and neighboring
countries, should receive the careful considera-
tion of Congress. 1t is of noteworthy interest
that the steady expansion of postal facilities
and the Improvement in governmental instilu-
tions over The new aud unoccupied portions of
our country, have scarcely been checked, much
less impeded or destroyed, by our great civil
war, which at first glance would seem to have
absorbed almost the entire energies OF the nation
NEVADA AND THE TERRITORIES.
The organization and admission of the State
of Nevada has been completed in conformity
with tie laws, and our excellent system is firmly
established in the mountains which once seemed
a barren and uninhabtable 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 aud Montana, by reason of their great
distance and the interruption of communication
with them bv Indian hostilites, have been only
partially organized; but it is understood that
these difficulties are about to disappear which
will permit their governments, like those of
others, to get into speedy aud full operation.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
As intimately connected with and promotive
of this material growth Of the nation, ask the
attention of Congress 10 the valuable in
formation and important recommendations
relating to the public lands, Indian affairs, the
Pacific Railroad aud mineral discoveries, con.
taued in the report of the Secretary of the
Interior, which is herewith transmitted, and
which report also embraces the subject of pat
ents pensions and other topics of public interest
pertaining to this Department. The quantity
of public land disposed of during the FIVE quar-.
teT> eDuiUg OU Tue oUlu Va OepttuUtl Iasl was
1921 ,342 acres, cf which l ,53S,6 Ola acres were
entered under the homestead law. The re-
mainder was located with military warrants
and agricultural scrip, certified to the States
for railroads and sold for cash. The cash re-
ceipts from sales and location fees are 81 ,0l9,
446. The income from sales during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1864, was S67S S,O07.2l
against S636071 95-the amount of receipts
during the preceding year. The aggregate of
acres surveyed during the year has been equal
to the quantity disposed Of and there is open
to settlement about 100000 acres of sur
veyed land.
TIE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The great enterprise of connecting the At
lautic with the Pacific by railroad and telegraph
lines has been entered upon with vigor that
gives assurance of success. Not xithStanding
the embarrassments arising from the prevailing
high prices of material and 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 Nebraska,
and preliminary location of the Pacific Rail-
road Of California made from Sacramento